EMPOWERING WOMEN. In a heartwarming initiative, the Department of Justice (DOJ) spearheaded a mission to provide free legal and medical services to women inmates at the Correctional Institution for Women in Mandaluyong City on December 6, 2024. The event, orchestrated by the DOJ Action Center, aimed to bring the spirit of generosity to those in need during the festive season.
MANILA – Over 300 women, many of whom are elderly and ill, received crucial support from this initiative. The DOJ Action Center collaborated with the Integrated Bar of the Philippines – Rizal-San Juan-Mandaluyong chapter, the Legal Aid Society of the Philippines, and volunteer paralegals from the Philippine Law School to make this possible.
In addition to legal assistance, the group ‘Kababaihan’ offered free medical and diagnostic services, staffed by a dedicated team of doctors, nurses, and interns.
As part of the 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women, the women inmates also participated in an empowering lecture on women’s rights, delivered by lawyers Tina De Guzman and Fofo Fernandez.
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla emphasized the importance of the campaign, stating, ‘As we near the end of this significant 18-Day Campaign against VAW, it is crucial for us to lead in freeing our women from all forms of injustice and acknowledging their vital role in decision-making and nation-building. Today’s women are as competitive as men, fulfilling a critical need in our society.’
He further added, ‘True justice transcends legal boundaries and reaches out with compassion to touch the lives of the less fortunate.’
This initiative is part of the broader ‘Katarungan’ caravan, managed by the DOJ Action Center under the guidance of Undersecretary Margarita Gutierrez.