Asean chief justices unveil landmark publications to guide courts

The summit hall at the Shangri-La Mactan ressort where leaders are holding their 12th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in this central Philippines city of Cebu 13 January 2007. Southeast Asian leaders began their annual summit behind closed doors and heavy security, looking to overhaul how their nations handle terrorism, free trade — and each other. in the central city of Cebu 13 January 2007. AFP PHOTO/HOANG DINH Nam (Photo by HOANG DINH NAM / AFP)

CEBU CITY, Philippines – The Council of Asean Chief Justices (CACJ) has unveiled a series of landmark publications that provide essential resources and frameworks when addressing pressing legal challenges shared across the region.

The publications cover cases involving human trafficking, cross-border disputes involving children, and the effective use of technology in judicial proceedings, according to a statement released by the Philippine Supreme Court’s public information office.

The recently concluded 11th meeting of the Asean chief justices at the Shangri-La Mactan in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu province highlighted the collective impetus of the Asean judiciaries to advance regional legal development and cooperation.

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The first two publications on human trafficking were presented by Philippine Judicial Academy Chancellor and retired Philippine Supreme Court Associate Justice Rosmari Carandang, co-chairperson of the CACJ Working Group on Judicial Education and Training, with I Gusti Agung Sumanatha, chair of the Civil Chamber of the Supreme Court of Indonesia, as co-chairperson.

“These publications are the result of lessons learned and challenges addressed during the pilot knowledge exchange project between the Philippines and Indonesia in 2023 and 2024,” the statement said.

Trafficking in persons cases

The Compendium of Good Practices in Adjudicating Trafficking in Persons Cases in Asean Member States: Lessons Learned and Responses to Challenges, provides a comprehensive overview of effective practices and key challenges in adjudicating trafficking in persons (TIP) cases across the Asean region.

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It focuses on critical aspects such as court proceedings and evidence management, victim support and protection, safeguarding the best interests of children, compensation and restitution for victims, evidence-based analysis of TIP decisions, and capacity-building initiatives for judges.

The Framework for a Judicial Knowledge Exchange on Trafficking in Persons in Asean outlines a structured approach to strengthening judicial capacity in addressing TIP cases.

The third publication, Working Group on Cross-Border Disputes Involving Children: A Compendium of Agreed Frameworks, was presented by its co-chairpersons, Philippine Supreme Court Associate Justice Amy Lazaro-Javier and Justice Teh Hwee Hwee of the Supreme Court of Singapore.

Endorsed in the 2021 Declaration and 2022 Kuala Lumpur Declaration of the CACJ, this Compendium offers ethical and procedural frameworks for addressing cross-border child-related disputes, including a Code of Ethics for Mediators, an Enhanced Common Procedure, and a Common Set of Values, Aspirations, and Principles for Asean Judiciaries.

Videoconferencing hearings

The Philippine Supreme Court Associate Justice Jose Midas Marquez, chairperson of the CACJ Working Group on the Conduct of Videoconferencing Hearings, presented the fourth publication, Compendium of Videoconferencing Practices Among Asean Member-States.

This consolidates rules and procedures for videoconferencing hearings across Asean courts, along with findings from a regional survey on taking of direct-evidence by courts in foreign jurisdictions.

The Compendium serves as a guide for Asean member states to adopt and effectively use videoconferencing technology, enhancing efficiency and accessibility in legal proceedings.

The Working Group is co-chaired by Philippine Supreme Court Associate Justice Maria Filomena Singh.

Chief Justice of the Philippines Alexander Gesmundo, chairperson elected at the 11th CACJ meeting in Cebu, lauded the remarkable contributions of the CACJ Working Groups in tackling some of the most challenging issues faced by courts.

Gesmundo described the publications as a CACJ’s legacy and recognized the exceptional hard work that made these achievements possible.

Established in 2013, the CACJ serves as a forum for the chief justices across the Asean to discuss common issues, promote close relations, and build mutual understanding among Member States.