2
The Community-Based Peer Monitoring Project
The first round (March 17 to April 17) of peer monitoring was focused on the
access to services of women and girls with disabilities during the ECQ. Thirteen
(13) peer monitors from W-DARE and NOVEL (Nationwide Organization of
Visually Impaired Empowered Ladies) were tapped to conduct the monitoring.
The second round of peer monitoring was implemented for five weeks May
10 to June 30) and involved peer monitors who were based in NCR, Region 7
and Region 10. This round of monitoring was supported by the United Nations
Populations Fund and engaged 42 peer monitors and 3 coordinators from NCR,
Cebu and Northern Mindanao.. Aside from NOVEL and W-DARE, members of
Women with Disabilities LEAP to Social and Economic Progress, Inc (WOW
LEAP), DAWN, Blind Inc., Cebu PDAO and individual women with disability
who have been involved in the CHR Inquiry and advocacy for disability rights
became peer monitors. Women with disabilities which participated in the 2019
National Inquiry on the Reproductive Health of women with disabilities and the
2019 Peer Facilitators Training for Women with Disabilities in Cagayan de Oro
were prioritized as peer monitors under the project.
By design, the project is primarily participatory. It recognizes the
importance of working with organizations of persons with disabilities in planning
and responding to the COVID-19 crisis. It also recognizes the capacity of each
woman with disability to reach out to their peers, to identify and document
issues among their sector, and to forward key recommendations and areas for
action. The role of the Commission, through GEWHRC, is to support women
with disabilities in this process, to facilitate and guide the documentation
process, to document, and to forward key recommendations for urgent and
continuing action.