About the author- litigation lawyer in telecoms, taxation, criminal, labor, appellate, family law and corporate; a radio broadcaster, speaker, author a husband, a father, advocate for consumers, for justice www.angkapatiran.org and a sinner who wants to
be a saint. hilman1108@yahoo.com
Psychologist Dr. Sylvia Estrada-Claudio gave a very important sharing at the UP College of Law Malcolm Hall forum on GENDER BIAS IN THE COURTS.
I was disturbed by what she said on the mindset in the courts on the appreciation of evidence presented in rape.
In the court, the regional trial court judge expects the rape victim to show resistance, and struggle against the rapist to show that she means NO. hOW MANY TIMES DOES A WOMAN HAVE TO SAY NO. The judge asks ‘ Why did the complainant not struggle, why did she not fight ? Dr Claudio says the reason she did not struggle is because she knows the perpetrator, and she wants to survive. A woman is not expected to give up her life to preserve her honor. Survival is important . The choices the rape victim
makes should not be taken against her.
It appears that most women do not go to the court system.
Rape is traumatic, and the woman may suffer post traumatic stress disorder.
Atty Rowena Guanzon, says in presenting the witness state the purpose that you will show proof of the fact that there is the post traumatic stress disorder suffered by the complainant.
I shall write about the study made by Atty Rowena Guanzon on Gender Inequality and Discrimination in Philippine Jurisprudence and Judicial Practice and the study made by Atty Myrna Feliciano entitled Policy Action Research to Enhance the Gender Responsiveness of the Family Courts as soon as I am able to read them.
attysison2020@yahoo.com
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