RCSFDM LAUNCHES ROTARY INSTITUTE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE
In what could be the first in the entire Rotary world, the RCSFDM launched last March 25, 2010, during the Intercity Meeting hosted by club for the GSE inbound teams from Switzerland and Korea and the visiting sister club, the RC Isesaki of Japan, led by no less than their current District Governor Tetsuo Ushikubo, the District’s Rotary Institute for Social Justice. District Governor dB. Coyukiat and President Mar Reyes signed the concept papers laying the foundations of the Institute, with Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, Jose Portugal Perez signing as witness. Lawyers mostly from RCSFDM signed as founding members.
President Mar Reyes envisions all lawyers from across the District to join the Institute and render humanitarian services in advocacies the Institute will adopt, in the spirit of Rotary’s guiding principles and goals.
Here are some of the features of the project on Humanity:
Name: Establishment of the Rotary Institute for Social Justice.
Purpose: To organize Rotarian-lawyers and other Rotarian volunteers into an Organization to espouse the cause of social justice in the Philippines, using and adopting the values, goals and the Object of Rotary.
Needs Addressed:
Rotary aims to promote peace and world understanding, among others. Society ills, however, are brought about not merely by poverty, but likewise by social injustices, which are a deterrent to a peaceful and just world. This project aims to address the need of awareness by the poor of their rights provided them by laws, and if necessary, provide them with legal assistance.
Social justice is the application of the concept of justice on a social scale. This project aims to help the poor become better citizens by enhancing their awareness of their rights and responsibilities provided by social legislation, or laws designed to protect the poor, helpless and marginalized sectors of society.
Project Description:
I. What is the Rotary Institute for Social Justice (RIFSJ)?
It is an organization of Rotarian-lawyers in District 3780, and other Rotarian-volunteers who agree to adopt the values, goals and Object of Rotary, and using the legal profession and allied professions in the enforcement, protection and enhancement of laws, commit and share the vision and mission of promoting the cause of social justice in the Philippines.
II. Specific Goals
The RIFSJ aims to –
- Adopt and promote certain advocacies that will further the cause of social justice in the Philippines, like the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006, known as the Children in Conflict with Law (RA 9344), the Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children Act of 2004 (RA 9262), the Anti-Child Pornography Act of 2009 (RA 9775), the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act of 1992 (RA 7610), the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003 (RA 9208) and such other laws meant to help the poor victims of social injustices.
- Act as a center for learning and training of resource speakers who may guide and assist Rotary clubs in the implementation of their service projects that have to do with any of the Institute’s advocacies. Towards this purpose, the Institute shall also aim to be accredited as an MCLE provider and that further, the actual hours spent by its members be accredited as the “free legal assistance or service” that may be compulsorily required by the Integrated Bar of the Philippines or the Supreme Court on all lawyers as a pre-requisite for the continued membership in the Roll of Attorneys.
- Upon invitation, to send such resource speakers to club meetings, seminars and other Rotary-sponsored fora or Rotary sponsored projects where the knowledge or expertise of any of its member or resource person or consultant is needed.
- Recruit as members, Rotarian-lawyers and other Rotarian professionals who are in the allied professions of enforcement, protection and enhancement of laws, inclusive of those in legal learning institutes, and who may act as legal consultants, legal counsel, and resource speakers, in all Rotary service projects that need some kind of legal knowledge or expertise.
- To accept and handle, pro bono, certain cases affecting poor victims of criminal acts and other social injustices, and who cannot afford the services of counsel, and in the assessment of the Institute, require legal assistance which are justified under Rotary’s values and goals and the Four-Way Test, and the purposes and goals of the Institute.
- Render legal opinion that may be required by the Office of the District Governor, that has to do with legal matters affecting the District or any of its affairs or which may help guide the District Governor in his or her official actions.
- Formulate legal pronouncements that may be required or approved by the District Governor on matters that affect social justice and at the same time protect the name or reputation of Rotary in the District.
- Act as legal counsel for the Office of the District Governor that may help or assist in the smooth and orderly administration of the District during his or her term.
- Bring to the attention of the District Governor any matter that may affect District 3780 legally, or any issue or action that requires the interpretation of any of the provisions of the Rotary’s Manual of Procedure, any rule of law, regulation or ordinance.
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III. Structure
The RIFSJ shall be headed by a District Attorney who will be appointed by the District Governor and will have a term co-terminus with the District Governor, unless sooner terminated or replaced, in which case, the replacement or new appointee will serve for the unexpired term.
The RIFSJ will be governed by a Management Committee which will be responsible for the day-to-day affairs of the Institute, its administrative functions and policy formulation and implementation.
The Management Committee shall be composed of the Chairman, who shall be the District Governor, and four other members, one of whom shall be the District Attorney who shall be the Vice Chairman. The three (3) other members shall be appointed by the incumbent District Governor. All the members of the Management Committee shall have a term of one year, coinciding with each Rotary Year.
The Management Committee shall promulgate Rules and Regulations and such other resolutions and directives that will help the Institute in attaining its goals and purposes.
The Management Committee shall also promulgate the Rules of Membership, and shall have the power to recommend to the District Governor, the removal of any member whose continued membership will prejudice the name and reputation of the Institute or Rotary.
IV. The Office of the Institute
The Institute shall initially have its physical office adjunct to the Office of the District Governor at the Rotary Center; Roces Avenue corner Mother Ignacia, Quezon City. All notices and correspondence to the Institute shall be received at such office.
V. Effective Date:
The Institute shall be deemed to exist upon approval of the District Governor of this proposed Project. Within thirty (30) days from such approval, the Management Committee shall formulate such Rules and Regulations and Policies that may be needed to fully effect the intent and purposes of the Institute. Such Rules and Regulations and Policies of the Institute may be modified or amended by the District Governor upon written recommendation of the Management Committee.
