EU awards P12-M grant to six PHL universities to improve women’s access to justice

The European Union (EU) has awarded EUR 215,000 or P12.1 million to six universities in the Philippines to help improve women's access to legal services.

West Visayas State University, Adamson University, University of San Carlos, University of the Visayas, Father Saturnino Urios University, and St. Louis University are the recipients of a grant from the EU's Governance in Justice Programme (GOJUST), which aims to support the Philippine government's efforts to improve access to justice for all.

The grant signing ceremony was held virtually on Tuesday to coincide with the celebration of International Women's Day.

“Gender equality is one of the EU’s core values. Ensuring women and girls have equal access to justice is fundamental to building a fair, inclusive, prosperous and peaceful society. The EU has been a committed partner to the Philippine’s Justice Sector reform since 2006. Our engagement stems from the importance we attach to democracy, human rights and the rule of law,” EU Ambassador to the Philippines Luc Véron said during his keynote address.

“We look forward to the transformative work of these universities in the year ahead. Women and girls are key agents of development and change. Their interventions will change lives for the better," he added.

The six universities will implement the Clinical Legal Education Program (CLEP) of the Supreme Court as a way to promote access to justice for women and other vulnerable groups.

The program is a credit-earning teaching course with the goal of providing law students with knowledge for the application of the law, delivery of legal services and promotion of social justice, especially to marginalized communities.

The EU said the West Visayas State University would set up a legal help desk for women, children and marginalized groups in need of legal support and assistance.

The University of the Visayas will also set up a legal help desk in the female dormitory of the Cebu City jail to provide free legal aid services to women deprived of liberty.

Adamson University will create a corps of paralegal volunteers, and focus on the legal empowerment and education of disadvantaged communities through workshops on the justice system, human rights, and women’s or children’s rights.

Father Saturnino Urios University will work with indigenous communities on rights awareness including women’s rights. — VBL, GMA News