The University of San Carlos, in partnership with Cebu Lady Lawyers Association Inc., Governance in Justice (GoJust), and the European Union, hosted the public presentation of Legal Feminism Study by Supreme Court (SC) Associate Justice Hon. Maria Filomena D. Singh on March 31, 2023, at the Michael Richartz Center in USC Talamban Campus. 

Assoc. Justice Singh presented the study which was based on 153 selected jurisprudence (SC decisions) from 2006 to 2022. The cases were selected based on the textual review of each decision’s gender dimension. 

Basically, the work “contributes to the gender justice discourse by probing tacit assumptions and constructions that underpin judicial reasoning from the perspective of legal feminism.” According to the study, the Court “applies feminist legal methods and theories to varying degrees” and it is mindful in ensuring that it upholds gender equality and equal treatment. 

However, it also highlighted that while Philippine gender jurisprudence accommodates simultaneous application of feminist perspectives, the Court continues to recognize that there are still biases and sexist speech and behaviors amongst judges and lawyers. For instance, some cases still “continue to employ gender insensitive terms and stereotypes.”

To address this, the study, which was funded by the European Union, recommended that the Supreme Court should consider issuing guidance and directives to provide gender-responsive remedies, abandon the use of sexist language in its decisions, and to address problematic and prejudicial interpretations, among others. 

Aside from the public presentation of the study, Atty. Hector Soliman, senior adviser of Access to Justice, European Union – Governance in Justice (GoJust) II Programme, also turned over the Feminist Judgment Series to USC which was accepted by University President Fr. Narciso A. Cellan Jr, SVD, D.Comm., Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs Atty. Joan S. Largo, Ll.M. and USC College of Law Dean Atty. Jose Glenn C. Capanas. 

The closing message was delivered by Atty. Regal M. Oliva, president of Cebu Lady Lawyers Association as the event was organized in line with the celebration of International Women’s Month.