EU’s SUBATRA Programme supports Supreme Court’s first National Shari’ah Summit
The summit will bring together at least two hundred key actors in the Shari’ah judicial system from across the country, including Supreme Court and Court of Appeals Justices, Shari’ah judges, Shari’ah counsellors-at-law, lawyers, and judges. Deans and professors of law schools, and representatives of different government agencies will also join the event.
Christoph Wagner, Head of Cooperation of the EU Delegation, commended the Supreme Court (SC) of the Philippines for organizing the national summit, marking an important milestone in the SC’s roadmap towards access to justice.
“We support this important initiative of the SC at the national level and I am happy to attend. At the regional level, we are also supporting the Bangsamoro Government in defining its unique justice system,” said Wagner.
He added that the EU is in partnership with the Spanish Cooperation through the SUBATRA Justice and Society Project in helping the Bangsamoro Government lay the groundwork for establishing its justice system.
The Bangsamoro Organic Law stipulates that the Bangsamoro’s justice system shall be in consonance with the Constitution, Shari'ah, traditional or tribal laws, and other relevant laws.
SUBATRA supported the first Bangsamoro tri-justice summit in Cotabato City last month, with around 150 participants representing the three strands of justice mechanisms existing in the BARMM namely, the Shari’ah, regular courts, and the tribal/traditional systems. This will enlighten further discussions on how to make justice become more accessible for the Bangsamoro People and to fortify the rule of law as part of our efforts to achieve lasting peace.
The SUBATRA Programme also supported the rounds of focus group discussions on the proposed revised rules of procedure in Shari’ah courts co-organized by the Supreme Court and the Bangsamoro Attorney-General’s Office.
Wagner said the First National Shari’ah Summit allows BARMM stakeholders to share their experience and learn from national and international best practices on Shari’ah.
“We have high hopes that our support through the SUBATRA Programme will go a long way. Helping make justice accessible to all Filipinos is at the core of our cooperation agreements with the Philippine Government,” said Wagner.
SUBATRA aims to help BARMM lay the foundation for lasting peace and development in the region by strengthening the capacities of its institutions to establish an enabling democratic governance environment during the Bangsamoro transition period.
For inquiries, please contact:
Thelma Gecolea
Public Affairs Officer
EU Delegation to the Philippines
Mobile 09209662066
E-mail: Thelma.Gecolea@eeas.europa.eu
Kenny Nodalo
Communications Senior Associate
SUBATRA Programme
Mobile No.: 09088627239
Email: KennyN@unops.org
About SUBATRA
Support to Bangsamoro Transition (SUBATRA) is a five-year programme funded by the European Union through an Agreement with the Government of the Republic of the Philippines with a value of EUR 26 Million or over PHP1.5 Billion.
SUBATRA contributes to a smooth and timely undertaking of the transition through capacity building of the three branches of the Bangsamoro Government (executive, legislative and judicial) and civil society organizations. This will promote an enabling good governance environment and support the efficient implementation of policies set up by the transition plan, focusing on capacities critical for the sound functioning of interim institutions. These include: i) the capacity of the BTA’s executive branch superstructure to drive and coordinate key transitional policies; ii) the capacity of the Parliament to exercise its law-making and oversight functions; iii) the capacity of the Justice System to adjudicate litigations and improve access to justice, and iv) capacity of the civil society to contribute to a peaceful transition to the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).