In a significant stride towards mainstreaming skills and standards on women, people of various SOGIESC, children, and indigenous peoples that are relevant to the functions of the Katarungang Pambarangay, the Ateneo Human Rights Center, in partnership with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) through the National Barangay Operations Office (NBOO), recently conducted the Training of Trainers (ToT) on the Enhanced Katarungang Pambarangay Training Manual in Davao City, held last 6-7 May 2024 at Park Inn by Radisson Davao, Agdao, Davao City.
The ToT is a part of the Implementation of a Child-Friendly, Gender-Responsive, and Indigenous People-Relevant Katarungang Pambarangay (KP Project) by AHRC.
Now on its second run, the ToT aims to increase the participants’ knowledge of using the Enhanced Katarungang Pambarangay Training Manual. The ToT is designed to provide the participants with guidance and the tools needed to implement Katarungang Pambarangay trainings in the future. By familiarizing trainers with this resource, the program strives to standardize and improve the quality of the implementation of the Katarungang Pambarangay across communities by training trainers that will ensure that the barangay and Lupon officials will be better equipped in handling disputes involving women, people of different SOGIESC, children, and indigenous peoples.
The program kicked off with the Welcome Remarks delivered by AHRC Deputy Executive DIrector and Internship Director Atty. Nicolene S. Arcaina. The learning sessions were led by notable resource speakers in AHRC Executive Director Atty. Ray Paolo Santiago, Atty. Araceli Habaradas of the Ateneo Law School, Atty. Cathy Alvarez of Street Law Philippines, Atty. Sheila Grace Formento of the Alternative Law Groups, and Ms. Valerie B. Junginger of Consuelo Zobel Alger Foundation.
The sessions include a Rundown of Enhanced Katarungang Pambarangay Training Manual, Access to Justice, Human Rights-Based Approach to Katarungang Pambarangay, Participatory approach, Training Needs Assessment (TNA), Training Materials and Techniques, The Art of Facilitation (Facilitation skills), and Program Evaluation.
The ToT was well-attended by selected participants coming from DILG Region XI office, DILG Davao City, Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Region XI offices, the Davao Justice Zone, and representatives from Ateneo de Davao University, University of Southeastern Philippines (USEP), and Saligan Mindanaw.
The successful implementation of the ToT in Davao City marks a pivotal step in strengthening the Katarungang Pambarangay system. With better-equipped trainers, the barangay and Lupon officials who are the frontliners of justice will be provided with necessary knowledge and skills on how to conduct the Katarungang Pambarangay in a gender-responsive, child-friendly, and indigenous peoples relevant manner.
In June 2024, the AHRC team will be flying out to conduct a ToT in Cebu City before the rollout of the Katarungang Pambarangay trainings by the hubs. The impact of this initiative will be closely monitored, with on-going support of the European Union through the Governance in Justice Programme II (GOJUST). The commitment to continuous improvement underscores the dynamic nature of the Katarungang Pambarangay system and its vital role in advancing access to justice of communities… one community at a time.
