EU in the Philippines teams up with SC, DOJ, DILG in creating the “Justice Zones”
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The European Union assured its commitment of improving the efficiency of the justice sector in the Philippines by supporting the Justice Zone, a flagship project of the Justice Sector Coordinating Council (JSCC) which was launched on Friday, 28 November 2014 at the Quezon City Hall, Quezon City, the pilot site of the project.
The Justice Sector Coordinating Council (JSCC), composed of the Supreme Court of the Republic of the Philippines, the Department of Justice, and the Department of Interior and Local Government, is supported by the European Union through the EU-Philippines Justice Support Programme II (EPJUSTII).
European Union Ambassador Guy Ledoux and the principals of the JSCC , Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Leila de Lima, and Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Manuel Roxas III co-inaugurated the project.
During the launch, Ambassador Ledoux noted the shortcomings of the past reforms in the justice sector and the need for cooperation of the several agencies in achieving its goals.
“It is argued that previous reforms have largely been piece-meal, scattered, and isolated throughout the justice system... It can only properly function when all its constituting elements are interplaying harmoniously and complementarily.” Ambassador Ledoux said.
Ambassador Ledoux also highlighted the importance of strengthening the Philippines’ justice system “to further sustain its economic growth, alleviate poverty, and protect human rights.”
For his part, Mayor Herbert Bautista of Quezon City welcomed the initiatives of the Justice Zone in his jurisdiction and expressed the city government’s willingness to take part in the innovations in the justice system.
Supreme Court Chief Justie Maria Lourdes Sereno, on the other hand, underscored the role of an integrated system of reform such as the Justice Zone in Quezon City in realizing justice for the citizens.
Justice Secretary Leila de Lima meanwhile said that the DOJ prioritizes the Justice Zone “to make one last and big push for major reforms to happen and take root,” She also emphasized that the justice must be real time and must be felt by the common people.
Lastly, DILG Secretary Manual Roxas III committed the cooperation of his department, the Philippine National Police and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology in delivering effective justice system in the country.
A Justice Zone is an area or locality where a minimum number of inter-agency coordinative reforms are present, rendering that area or locality fully compliant based on a selection and accreditation system established by the Council.
The concept is guided by a strategy map or an operations flow-chart depicting critical processes in the criminal justice system (from alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, case build-up, to trial and post-judgment incidents) and resource requirements to fully operationalize a justice zone.
Aside from the processes, the work of the JSCC will also strengthen the capabilities and capacity of the various justice institutions involved such as: the judiciary, the prosecution service, law enforcement, and the jail management and corrections, among justice sector institutions. (END)
