2. Conduct of Regional Consultations through its fifteen (15) regional field offices on CEDAW and Magna Carta of Women with particular focus on Reproductive Health and Reproductive Rights in March and in time for the celebration of women’s month. The Regional Consultations will be conducted by the Commission’s Regional Offices with guidance from GEWHRC and the UNFPA; 3. Conduct of Fact Finding Missions and Public Hearings in five select areas in the country during the month of April. The select areas are: Metro Manila, Legazpi City (Albay, Region 5), Tacloban City (Leyte, Region 8), Zamboanga City (Zamboanga Del Sur, Region 9), and Cagayan de Oro City (Misamis Oriental, Region 10), and. Two days will be devoted to fact finding and one day for the public hearing. The Public Hearing for Metro Manila will be on 4th of April; in Legaspi, April 14; in Zamboanga, April 21; in Tacloban, April 25 and in Cagayan de Oro, April 29. Individuals, organizations with specific concerns on RH and particularly falling within the scope of the Inquiry are encourage to participate and attend. The Philippines signed and ratified in 1981 the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). Since then, various legislations recognizing, affirming and promoting women’s human rights were enacted. Recently, two ground-breaking laws were passed, the Magna Carta of Women (MCW) and the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Law (RPRH). Despite the various progressive laws, women in the Philippines continue to face significant challenges and discrimination. In the area of reproductive health, the Philippines has one of the highest rates of maternal mortality in the Asia and the Pacific Region at 120 deaths per 100,000 live births2, and is off-track to achieve the Millennium Development Goal 5. The CEDAW Committee, in its 36th session in 2006, expressed concern over this, noting the number of deaths resulting from induced abortion, high fertility rates, inadequate family planning services, low rates of contraceptive use, and the difficulties of obtaining contraceptives. It also noted the lack of sex education 2 UNDP. 2015. Human Development Report. Comparative data shows an average of 72 deaths per 100,000 live births for East Asia and the Pacific Region. 27