[{"bbox": [96, 153, 1134, 313], "category": "Text", "text": "\"pursuing Swift and Fair Administration of Justice\"⁴. One of those changes has been the introduction of justice sector coordination. This policy brings together the Supreme Court, the Department of Justice and the Department of Interior and Local Government in a \"Justice Sector Coordinating Council (JSCC)\" to identify common problems and develop sector-based solutions. Coordination is operationalised at the local level, with the establishment of Justice Zones (JZ), cities in which all relevant actors (judges, public prosecutor and public attorney's offices, and the police) work together to improve criminal justice provision."}, {"bbox": [96, 338, 1134, 497], "category": "Text", "text": "However, the fundamental rights civil justice, and criminal justice sub-indicators under the World Justice Project (WJP)⁵ remain critical. Indeed, in the Rule of Law Index of the WJP, the overall score of the Philippines remains in the bottom half of the index (0.47), with a global rank of 97 out of 140 countries and with a regional ranking of 13 over 15 countries in the East Asia and Pacific region. Criminal justice's performance is particularly alarming, with the lowest scores (0.32), ranking 117 out of 140 countries examined⁶. Likewise, the Philippines fares poorly in the Rule of Law (ranking 34.14) under the World Bank's Worldwide Governance Indicators for 2022⁷."}, {"bbox": [96, 521, 1134, 760], "category": "Text", "text": "The new PDP 2023-2028 acknowledges these figures, recognises that an efficient administration of justice is critical in ensuring sustained economic progress and highlights the current shortcomings: Fragmentation of the criminal justice system, backlogs in case processing, limited resources and low confidence. To tackle many of these issues, and to \"improve the sector's efficiency and accountability\" the new PDP choses to maintain and further expand the Justice Sector Coordination policy introduced in the previous PDP, with the strengthening and expansion of Justice Zones (JZs) — with the establishment of one new JZ per quarter until the end of 2028 — the operationalisation of coordination at the local level — and the institutionalisation of the Justice Sector Coordination Council (JSCC). The PDP also commits to a more inclusive justice, more specifically to strengthen victim legal protection and assistance, as well as coordination among the justice actors."}, {"bbox": [96, 785, 1134, 918], "category": "Text", "text": "In parallel, the Supreme Court – at the helm of the judiciary - launched in 2022 its Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations 2022-2027, anchored on four guiding principles: Timely and fair justice, transparent and accountable justice, equal and inclusive justice, technologically adaptive management. Lines of work foreseen under the SPJI target three outcomes: Efficiency, Innovation, and Access⁸. This new strategy – yet to be translated into an action plan – evidences the commitment with reform of the Justices of the Supreme Court."}, {"bbox": [96, 943, 1134, 1235], "category": "Text", "text": "The EU is already recognised as a valuable, longstanding partner in the justice sector with the first programme on this sector dating back to 2006. The last two support programmes in particular – GOJUST I and the still ongoing GOJUST II – had as counterparts the key actors in the reform of justice provision in the Philippines, and have been key on many of the areas that continue to be relevant, such as justice sector coordination, or institutional efficiency and effectiveness. This engagement has helped build a relationship that is a strong entry point to support the sector's renewed efforts (as stated under the new PDP), to improve their efficiency, and accountability and to increase access to justice for all. This Action will further support the much-needed reforms as stipulated and committed by the new Marcos Jr. administration and the Supreme Court. This Action will also complement the Philippine Open Government Partnership, which is actively led by the Department of Budget and Management. It will provide space for participatory consultations and foster stronger multi-sectoral partnerships to promote good governance and improve efficiency both in the executive and the judiciary."}, {"bbox": [96, 1260, 1134, 1473], "category": "Text", "text": "The action will directly contribute to the achievement of SDG 16 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development as well as section 4.1 of the 2017 European Consensus on Development which both promote peaceful and inclusive societies through, inter alia, the enhancement of the rule of law and equal access to justice for all, development of effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels, which are all key entry points of the envisaged EU Programme. The action will also contribute to the implementation of the Gender Action Plan III's country level implementation plan for the Philippines 2021-2025 as it targets two of the CLIP areas of engagement, namely 1) ensuring freedom from all forms of gender-based violence (and access to justice) and 2) promoting equal participation and leadership."}, {"bbox": [85, 1501, 535, 1526], "category": "Footnote", "text": "⁴ Philippine Development Plan 2017-2022, Chapter 6."}, {"bbox": [85, 1525, 1143, 1572], "category": "Footnote", "text": "⁵ Fundamental rights (29.00 vis-à-vis 15.71), civil justice (27.00 vis-à-vis 25.71) and criminal justice (29.00 vis-à-vis 16.43) sub indicators"}, {"bbox": [85, 1573, 579, 1598], "category": "Footnote", "text": "⁶ World Justice Rule of Law Index 2022, pages 11 and 141."}, {"bbox": [85, 1598, 530, 1623], "category": "Footnote", "text": "⁷ Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028, page 305."}, {"bbox": [85, 1622, 977, 1646], "category": "Footnote", "text": "⁸ https://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/supreme-court-launches-the-strategic-plan-for-judicial-innovations-2022-2027/"}, {"bbox": [85, 1682, 193, 1706], "category": "Page-footer", "text": "Page 5 of 32"}]