[ OCA CIRCULAR NO. 58-2009, May 21, 2009 ]

[ OCA CIRCULAR NO. 58-2009, May 21, 2009 ]

[ OCA CIRCULAR NO. 58-2009, May 21, 2009 ]

TO:

THE PRESIDING JUSTICE AND ASSOCIATE JUSTICES OF SANDIGANBAYAN, PRESIDING JUDGES OF THE FIRST AND SECOND LEVEL COURTS

SUBJECT:

SUBMISSION OF NOMINEES FOR THE GENDER JUSTICE AWARDS II

The Gender Justice Awards Search Committee of the National Commission on the Role of Filipino Womeni (NCRFW) is looking for nominees for a gender-sensitive Sandiganbayan Justice, first level or second level Judge to highlight the important role that the judiciary plays in addressing violence against women (VAW).

The awards will be recognizing gender-sensitive Justices and Judges from the Sandiganbayan, Regional Trial Court, Shari'a District Court, Metropolitan Trial Court, Municipal Trial Courts in Cities, Municipal Trial Court, Municipal Circuit Trial Court, Shari'a Circuit Courts. Six (6) judges and one (1) Sandiganbayan Justice will be chosen for the following awards: the Most Outstanding Gender-Sensitive Judge, Outstanding Judges from the National Capital Region (NCR), Luzon , Visayas and Mindanao , Outstanding Gender-Sensitive Judge in the Shari'a Courts and Outstanding Gender-Sensitive Sandiganbayan Justice.

Should you wish to make a nomination, kindly see the attached mechanics or access the detailed mechanics and nomination forms from the NCRFW website at www.ncrfw.com.ph . The deadline for submission of the nomination is on May 31, 2009 . If you have any inquiries regarding the Gender Justice awards, please don't hesitate to call the Search Secretariat :at (02) 735-8919 or send an e-mail to antivawsearch@qma il.com .

May __ 21 __, 2009. Untitled Document

JOSE P. PEREZ

Court Administrator

GENDER JUSTICE AWARDS 2: Search for Outstanding Gender-Sensitive Judges and Sandiganbayan Justice on VAW Cases

GENERAL MECHANICS

Qualification for Nomination

Judges from Metropolitan Trial Court, Municipal Trial Courts, Municipal Circuit Trial Courts, Family Courts and Regional Trial Courts as well as Justice from the Sandiganbayan (specifically on sexual harassment case), whether incumbent or have retired from the service provided that, in case of the latter, he/she was incumbent at the time of the nomination, who have handled cases involving violence against women (VAW) and have rendered a gender-sensitive decision, during the period January 2004 to December 2008, may be nominated.

The cases under consideration are those cases involving violence against women (VAW) such as rape (which includes marital rape, incestuous rape and statutory rape), domestic violence, physical injuries, acts of lasciviousness, sexual harassment, concubinage, parricide, and psychological and emotional abuse in legal separation and nullity of marriage, and other cases involving abuse of and violence inflicted on a women or a girl-child.

The Nominated Judge/s must have shown sensitivity to women litigant in the conduct of trial of the case/s under consideration.

The Nominated Judge/s should (1) exhibit integrity and moral character as public servant and private citizen; (2) have neither record of conviction nor any pending charges at the time of the nomination and; (3) practice judicial decorum towards lawyers, litigants, witnesses and the public in general to establish his/her personal integrity.

Mechanics of the Search

1. The Search will recognize six (6) Judges and one (1) Sandiganbayan Justice who have rendered the most gender- sensitive court decisions on Violence against Women (VAW) cases in the last five years (2004-2008); This is broken down as follows:

» One (1) award for the Most Outstanding Gender-Sensitive Judge who has handled VAW case in a gender-sensitive manner and has rendered the most gender-sensitive decision.

» Four (4) area awards for Most Outstanding Gender-Sensitive Judge for the National; Capitol Region (NCR), Luzon, Vizayas, Mindanao .

» One (1) Special Awards will be given to the Most Outstanding Gender-Sensitive Judge in the Shari'a Courts

» One (1) Special Awards will be given to the Most Outstanding Gender-Sensitive Sandiganbayan Justice