63. The State party is fine-tuning its document verification processes at exit points to avert potential trafficking situations and protect possible victims from exploitation, while upholding the right to travel of other citizens. Task forces, composed of inter-agency representatives, are stationed in key exit points in the country. 64. The State requires departing Filipino workers to secure an Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) to ensure proper documentation and fulfilment of all government regulations for overseas employment. 65. The State party is formulating a legislation that will prevent and combat smuggling of migrants and protect the rights of smuggled migrants, complementing existing TIP measures and address irregular migration. Article 65 23. In line with the recommendations contained in paragraph 28 of the Committee’s previous concluding observations, please provide information on the measures taken by the State party to improve the situation of Filipino migrant women facing situations of vulnerability by: (a) Conducting a thorough assessment of the situation of Filipino migrant women, including their income in the informal sector, and taking concrete measures to address the feminization of migration comprehensively in its labour migration policies, and ensuring minimal social protection for Filipino migrant women 66. The State party formulated its Women’s Empowerment, Development and Gender Equality Plan 2013-2016, or the Women’s EDGE Plan, to address, among others, sectoral concerns of women, including issues faced by women migrant workers66. 67. The State party enacted the Magna Carta of Women (MCW) or Republic Act No. 9710 which mandates concerned government agencies to exert efforts to create local employment and other economic opportunities to address out-migration and for the provision of skills and entrepreneurship development of returning women migrant workers, reduction/ elimination of transfer costs of remittances, and provision of access to investment opportunities for remittances in line with national development efforts. The same law requires the appointment of Gender Focal Point Officer (GFPO) in FSPs to handle gender concerns of women migrant workers.67 (b) Negotiating more secure employment opportunities and terms and conditions for Filipino migrant women in vulnerable sectors through bilateral agreements in those countries where discriminatory treatment and abuse are more frequent 68. The State party continues to negotiate bilateral labour agreements with destination countries. The State party also continues to assess the situation in other countries to check for protective guarantees for migrant workers. As of December 2013, 192 countries have been found by the State party to be compliant with the protection guaranty requirements for destination countries of OFWs.68 66 The Women’s EDGE Plan 2013-2016 includes five (5) main parts as strategic key result areas: Economic Empowerment, Social Development Rights, Security, Justice and Peace, Gender and Environment, Biodiversity and Climate Change and Gender-Responsive Governance. Economic Empowerment includes women in formal, informal and migration sectors. 67 As an example, the designated GFP Officer in the Philippine Embassy in Paris launched the establishment of a Violence Against Women (VAW) desk in response to the various situations of violence faced by Filipina migrants in France. The launch was made during the celebration of the National Consciousness Day on VAW. Similar to the VAW desks set up in barangays (villages) in the Philippines, the desk receives victims of VAW, provides psychological or medical help and assists on possible legal action under French law. 68 As of December 2012, 191 countries have been found by the State Party to be compliant with the protection guarantees requirement for destination countries of OFWs. 94