Davide conferred first honorary membership in UN Development Fund for Women

Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr. was recently conferred by the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) with its first honorary membership for his exemplary support and advocacy of women’s rights.

Created by the UN General Assembly in 1976, UNIFEM works in partnership with other UN organizations, governments and non-governmental organizations to promote gender equality and the empowerment of women.

In a statement, Davide said he was accepting the award in behalf of the Philippine judiciary.

"I take this honor not for myself but for the Philippine judiciary, which must face up to this challenge by being the vigilant bastion of democracy, upholding the rule of law, protecting valued rights and cherished freedoms and ensuring the expeditious administration and dispensation of fair, impartial and equal justice to all," he said.

Women have become a significant presence in the judiciary.

Women make up 26 percent of the 1,454 judges nationwide at the end of 2004, Davide said.

Five out of the 15 members of the SC are women, David noted. Women also account for 20 of the 64 members of the Court of Appeals and three of the 14 members of the Sandiganbayan, as well two of the six members of the Court of Tax Appeals.

Davide said the Constitution also recognizes the role of women in nation-building and makes it a duty of the State to ensure the equality of women and men before the law.

He said the country ratified in 1981 a UN treaty that called for the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women.

"Both women and men must be secured in their God-given rights and enjoy the freedoms that belong to them as persons, without distinction," he said.