Axalan: One of six outstanding gender-sensitive judges in RP

Judge Albert Z. Axalan of the regional trial court of Digos City was recently named he “Most Outstanding Gender-Sensitive Judge for Mindanao.”
He was one of six judges nationwide named in this year’s Gender Justice Awards II of the Philippine Commission on Women, the Commission on Human Rights, the Supreme Court, Integrated Bar of the Philippines and the Department of Justice.
Judge Axalan made it to the shortlist of finalists after a year-long search among hundreds of nominees of government and non-government organizations, civic groups and private individuals on the basis of his decision in 2007 on the case “People of the Republic of the Philippines versus Lolito Gemillo” for violation of RA8353, otherwise known as the Anti-Rape Law of 1995 cited as “an example of gender-sensitivity and made bereft of gender bias.”
“I believe in the world’s call for ending violence against women, which was recently punctuated with an exclamation point by the Maguindanao Massacre.” Axalan declared as he condemned  the incident as “a most heinous crime against humanity.”
Axalan said that “no country in the world can ever claim to be humane and civilized if it cannot protect its women and children from violence.”
The awarding rites last November 25  kicked-off an 18-day campaign in the country in line with global efforts  to promote greater public awareness on the need to eliminate gender bias and violence against women. Also behind the campaign are the United Nations Fund for Women (UNIFEM), the UN Population Fund, UP Center for Women Studies Foundation and District 17 of Zonta International. [ERL]