Fair Justice - Think Paper on Land and Justice

⁠⁠⁠From 21–25 July 2025, the FAIR Justice Program organized a study visit to Australia for the Supreme Court Sub-Committee to Develop a Judicial Curriculum on the Rules on Land Registration, with representatives from courts and justice-sector agencies. The delegation examined the Torrens Title system to draw lessons for the Philippines. Key takeaways were that land disputes remain a major caseload, disproportionately affecting Indigenous Peoples, women, PWDs, smallholder farmers and other marginalized groups, while current registration and dispute-resolution processes are fragmented, redundant, and costly. The visit highlighted the need for interoperable electronic registration to improve efficiency and curb fraud, alongside inclusive reforms that address GEDSI, climate and conflict-related vulnerabilities.

The think paper will synthesize these lessons and inform a proposed Land and Justice Summit and a Technical Working Group to harmonize procedures and explore legislative and institutional options.

Description

Timeline:

Invitation Issue Date: Wednesday 1 April 2026

Closing Date and Time: Wednesday 15 April 2026 at 5:00pm Manila Time

Please send your queries to maureen.gamboa@fairjustice.ph.