About EPJUST-II

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Project Outline

The objective of the European Union’s EPJUST II Programme is to promote equitable access to justice and its efficient enforcement for all citizens in general and the poor and disadvantaged people in particular.  It is directly related to reform efforts that have been in place in the Philippines for the past twenty-five years, starting with the adoption of the 1987 Constitution and various reforms undertaken by the Philippine Government, especially the Action Programme for Judicial Reform (2001-2006).  

The Programme builds upon the achievements of two prior EU projects:  “Improving Governance to Reduce Poverty:  Access to Justice for the Poor” (November 2006 to August 2008) and “EU-Philippines Justice Support Programme (EPJUST)” (November 2009 to July 2011). 

 

Management of Programme:

The Delegation of the European Union to the Philippines is funding the Programme

The Department of Interior Local Government (DILG) is the executing authority.    The Programme Task Force (PTF) which is responsible for the day-to-day management of the Programme.  

A Project Steering Committee (PSC) has been established and is chaired by the DILG.   Representatives from  the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Department of Justice, The Department of Social Welfare and Development, the National Economic and Development Authority, the Supreme Court, the Commission on Human Rights, the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples, the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos and Civil Society Organisations are members.  A representative from the EU Delegation will also be a member.

There are nine technical working groups one for each Result, including Community Policing.  A representative from the EU Delegation will also be a member. 

 

The Programme has three Components and eight (8) Results:  

UNDER COMPONENT I: ENHANCING ACCESSIBILITY

RESULT 1

Enhanced legal awareness through greater access to information on legal issues, laws, systems, procedures, and decisions, as well as improved legal education of poor and disadvantaged people;

RESULT 2

Improved and enhanced legal aid and other social services provided by governmental and non-governmental organizations to poor and disadvantaged people;

RESULT 3

Increased awareness and understanding of issues, laws, regulations and procedures related to access to justice of poor and disadvantaged people by judges, court personnel, officials from quasi-judicial bodies, and prosecutors; and

RESULT 4

Enhanced and improved use of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms by Courts, the Barangay Justice System, Quasi-Judicial Bodies, the Muslim Justice System (Sharia Courts), and the Indigenous Justice System.

 

UNDER COMPONENT II: FIGHTING IMPUNITY

RESULT 5

Develop a community –based policing strategy; consolidate the development of an interconnected criminal intelligence system; continue capacity-building in criminal cases.

RESULT 6

Reduced delays in the investigation, prosecution and adjudication of murder and abductions in general, and ELKs and EDs in particular; and

RESULT 7

Enhanced witness protection, hence witness contribution, all along the criminal process from investigation, through prosecution, to adjudication.

 

UNDER COMPONENT III: ENHANCING ACCOUNTABILITY

RESULT 8

Enhanced monitoring mechanisms of justice sector government agencies, the judiciary and quasi-judicial bodies and enhanced oversight by public and private bodies and organizations regarding access to justice and criminal justice enforcement issues.

 
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