Justice system falls short on domestic violence cases.

Justice system falls short on domestic violence cases - INQUIRER.net, Philippine News for Filipinos

Two months before former Chief Justice Reynato Puno retired this year, he delivered a speech on the state of domestic violence cases in the Philippines. Among other things, he stated, thus:

1. While Republic Act No. 8369 creating family courts was passed back in 1997, such courts— specially designated to handle domestic violence, youthful offenders and other family cases — had yet to be fully regularized.

2. Most people were not aware of the remedies and relief they could get from the family courts.

3. “They need judges, social workers, prosecutors, defense counsels and police officers who have greater sensitivity to the special status of [women and children]. Gender and children biases are deep-rooted prejudices and the bigotry against them will not dissolve easily,” Puno said.

4. Puno identified the legal roadblocks, namely, the lack of knowledge in legal procedure, lack of personnel who specialize in family courts, lack of judges to handle family cases, failure to prosecute cases, insensitivity of judges to women and children victims, and delays in the dispensation of justice.

see:
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20100314-258667/Justice-system-falls-short-on-domestic-violence-cases