At the 11th Meeting of the Council for ASEAN Chief Justices held at the Shangri-La Mactan in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, the ASEAN chief justices introduced a series of pivotal publications aimed at tackling regional legal issues. These documents, unveiled during the recent assembly, focus on critical areas such as human trafficking, cross-border child disputes, and the integration of technology in court proceedings.
The first set of publications, presented by Philippine Judicial Academy Chancellor Rosmari Carandang and I Gusti Agung Sumanatha from Indonesia’s Supreme Court, delve into human trafficking. These include the ‘Compendium of Good Practices in Adjudicating Trafficking in Persons Cases in ASEAN Member States’ and the ‘Framework for a Judicial Knowledge Exchange on Trafficking in Persons in ASEAN’. Both publications stem from a collaborative project between the Philippines and Indonesia, highlighting effective practices and judicial capacity enhancement in handling trafficking cases.
Another significant publication, ‘Working Group on Cross-Border Disputes Involving Children: A Compendium of Agreed Frameworks’, was introduced by Philippine Supreme Court Associate Justice Amy Lazaro-Javier and Singapore’s Justice Teh Hwee Hwee. This compendium, endorsed in previous CACJ declarations, provides ethical and procedural guidelines for managing child-related disputes across borders.
The fourth publication, ‘Compendium of Videoconferencing Practices Among ASEAN Member-States’, was presented by Philippine Supreme Court Associate Justice Jose Midas Marquez. It consolidates rules and procedures for videoconferencing in ASEAN courts, aiming to improve efficiency and accessibility in legal proceedings.
Chief Justice of the Philippines Alexander Gesmundo, elected chair at the meeting, praised the CACJ Working Groups for their efforts in addressing these complex issues. He emphasized the publications’ role as a lasting legacy of the council’s commitment to advancing judicial cooperation and development across ASEAN.