THE Supreme Court of the Philippines and the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia have inked a five-year memorandum of understanding (MoU) on judicial cooperation.

Under the MoU, both chief justices shall meet annually to advance the relationship, acknowledging that the implementation of projects and activities may involve a combination of Australian and Philippine expertise.

The agreement was signed during the 2024 Asia and the Pacific Regional Conference of the International Association of Women Judges and 2024 National Convention of the Philippine Women Judges Association.

The MoU was signed by Philippine Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo and Chief Justice William Alstergren AO of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia, who joined online.

According to Chief Justice Gesmundo, the agreement focuses on enhancing access to the family courts of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged in society, including women and children, developing women's leadership opportunities in the family courts, and capacity-building initiatives on trafficking in persons and online sexual abuse and exploitation of children.

He said the focus areas are in line with the Supreme Court's blueprint of action for judicial reform, the Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations 2022-2027 (SPJI), particularly the SPJI's guiding principle on equal and inclusive justice and target outcome of Access.

Gesmundo described the MoU as "the latest addition to a long history of cooperation between our two governments and our judiciaries, a partnership that is borne not only of mutual pursuits and advocacies but likewise anchored on mutual respect and support."

The MoU is an initiative under the Fostering Advancement of Inclusive Rights-based Justice Program of the Australian Government, under the Strategic Partnership between Australia and the Philippines.