The Supreme Court (SC) reaffirmed its commitment to gender equality and judicial reforms, emphasizing the role of women judges in driving systemic change and strengthening the judiciary’s efficiency, innovation, and accessibility.
At the Philippine Women Judges Association (PWJA) 2025 Annual Convention, Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo and other SC justices highlighted key reforms under the Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations 2022–2027 (SPJI), particularly digitalization efforts and gender-sensitive policies.
Chief Justice Gesmundo stressed that gender representation must translate into tangible contributions to the legal system.
“Your presence on the bench signifies progress, but its impact must go beyond representation. You must mentor young minds in the legal profession, break down gender biases within our institution, and create judicial environments where fairness is not just administered but deeply embedded in the system,” he said.
PWJA President Associate Justice Amy C. Lazaro-Javier noted the increasing presence of women in the Judiciary.
“The Philippine Judiciary was once a male-dominated industry. Yet today, we now outnumber our male counterparts,” Justice Lazaro-Javier pointed out.
Executive Vice President Associate Justice Maria Filomena D. Singh outlined ongoing initiatives aimed at strengthening gender mainstreaming, including the Legal Feminism Report, gender-sensitive courtroom guidelines, and the development of a handbook on decision writing with a gendered lens.
Meanwhile, Senior Associate Justice Marvic M.V.F. Leonen provided updates on the Judiciary’s digital transformation, including the nationwide implementation of eCourt PH 2.0 to improve case management.
In addition, Associate Justice Jhosep Y. Lopez underscored the legal obligation of gender fairness, while Associate Justice Jose Midas P. Marquez called for a secure and inclusive judicial system.
Aside from these discussions, the convention also tackled judicial ethics, Shari’ah court procedures, and legal aid initiatives, with insights from Court Administrator Raul B. Villanueva and other legal experts.
Moreover, the PWJA recognized outstanding women judges with the HerStory: Gender Award of Distinction and honored retirees and service awardees.
According to the SC, there are 1,372 female justices and judges as of February 2025, reflecting the Judiciary’s continued efforts to promote equal representation and reform.
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