Justice and Healing, the two-year project supported by the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights Program (EIDHR) ended with a conference that gathered women’s rights advocates last November 28, 2012 at the Bayview Park Hotel in Ermita, Manila.
Women’s Feature Service Executive Director Ms. Olive Tripon presented the Project Overview followed by Women’s Crisis Center (WCC) Consultant Ms. Theresa Balayon who discussed the J&H Approach as a work in progress. Then, Women’s Legal Education, Advocacy, and Defense (WomenLEAD) Foundation Atty. Claire Angeline Pauig Luczon
Atty. Claire Luczon presented the experiences of Legal Practitioners in dealing with VAWC cases in courts. Meanwhile, ASSIST was represented by Project Development Specialist Margaret Yarcia.
The event featured two forums, the first of which featured: Former RTC Judge: Atty. Adoracion P. Cruz- Avisado, Chairperson, Transformative Justice Institute; Lawyer: Atty. Minerva Quintela, OIC WomenLead Foundation; PO2 Abigail Rayala of Guinobatan, Albay; and Barangay Official: Ms. Josie Fallesgon, GAD Focal Person, Brgy. Sauyo, Quezon City.
Meanwhile, the second forum panel was composed of LGU partner: Ms. Lorna Mandin, Executive Director, Integrated Gender and Development Division of Davao City; Area Coordinator: Ms. Agnes Carlos – Butuan City; Paralegal: Ms. Vera Gesite – Municipal Arts and Culture Coordinator, Alburquerque, Bohol; Service provider:Ms. Marie June Castro, program officer, DAWN Foundation, Bacolod City; and NGO: Atty Arnold Abejaron, President of Men Opposed to Violence Everywhere (MOVE) Davao.
Mr. Margarito Raynera, Programme Officer from the Delegation of the European Union to the Philippines then delivered closing remarks, through which he lauded the efforts of the Project Team and the participating organizations. For her part, musician Istarte Abraham presented a cultural performance.
The Justice and Healing project aims to strengthen components of the justice system to deliver rights-based and gender-sensitive services using the justice and healing perspective with respect to cases of VAW.
