Message of the Presiding Justice for 2024 Sandiganbayan Launch of Women's Month on March 4, 2024

Good morning to my Sandiganbayan Family.

Today, the Sandiganbayan joins our nation's celebration of Women's Month with the theme "WE for gender equality and inclusive society".

The theme is both a positive affirmation of the milestone achieved by our country in closing gender gaps and a call to action, Per information from the Philippine Commission on Women, and citing the 2023 Global Gender Gap Index Report by the World Economic Forum, the Philippines maintains its status as the leading Asian country in narrowing the gender gap. Out of 146 countries globally, the Philippines is the top 16^th in terms of gender equality across four (4) dimensions: Economic Participation and Opportunity, Educational Attainment, Political Empowerment, and Health and Survival.

Let us be proud but let us not be complacent. There is still much more that we can do and much more work to be done.

This year, our very able Committee on Gender Responsiveness led by Justice Tess Arcega has lined up several activities and initiatives. Let us all show our support towards Women's month by participating.

Mabuhay po ang ating kababaihan. Mabuhay ang bawa't isang ilaw ng tahanan.

Mabuhay po ang Sandiganbayan.