EU, UNOPS & IDLO Launch 20th Justice Zone in La Union, Philippines

Country: Philippines Source: UNOPS Please refer to the attached file. SAN FERNANDO CITY, LA UNION - The Justice Sector Coordinating Council (JSCC), in partnership with the European Union (EU) through the EU-GOJUST Programme, has officially launched the City of San Fernando, La Union, as the 20th Justice Zone in the Philippines. The event represents a major milestone in the country’s justice sector reform, bringing the nation to nearly two-thirds of its Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028 target of establishing 30 operational Justice Zones nationwide, now covering approximately 12% of the national population. As the regional and administrative capital, San Fernando City has integrated the Justice Zone framework into its vision of a “People’s City,” linking it directly to its landmark Gender Equality and Social Inclusion Code of 2025 and its ongoing partnership with the Commission on Human Rights to be designated as a formal human rights city. “The establishment of Justice Zones is a recognition that the effective and efficient administration of justice requires the active communication, cooperation, and coordination among the five pillars of the criminal justice system. This initiative also advances the Supreme Court’s Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations (SPJI) 2022–2027, which envisions a judiciary that is efficient, technology-driven, and people-centred,” said Supreme Court Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo. He further highlighted the critical role of development partners, noting: “Last year, the Governance in Justice (GOJUST) Programme of the European Union, our development partner in the establishment of Justice Zones, conducted a study on the impact of the Justice Zone model... which showed that 85% of stakeholders perceived that the Justice Zones in their respective localities have meaningfully cont...

Original source: Relief Web