Human Rights Promotion and Advocacy 69 CHAPTER XI: Human Rights Promotion and Advocacy T he 1987 Philippine Constitution explicitly provides for the role of the Commission in the promotion of human rights. It explicitly provides that the Commission “establish a continuing program of research, education, and information to enhance respect for the primacy of human rights83.”In-line also with human rights promotion is the role of the Commission to “recommend to the Congress effective measures to promote human rights” and to “request the assistance of any department, bureau, office, or agency in the performance of its functions.” Under the Magna Cara of Women, the Commission is likewise tasked with the role of advocating for protection and promotion of women’s human rights, section 40 of the MCW IRR specifically provides that “the CHR as the Gender and Development Ombud shall advocate for the protection and promotion of women’s human rights and strengthen its human rights education program. “By the virtue of its Constitutional mandate, and as Gender Ombud, the Commission extends this advocacy to the promotion and protection of the rights of persons with diverse SOGIE. Gender and Development (GAD) Promotion and Advocacy In light of the abovementioned mandates, the Commission shall establish a continuing program of research, education and information to enhance respect for the primacy of human rights of women and persons with diverse SOGIE. It shall also recommend to Congress any effective measures to promote women’s human rights as well as the rights of persons with SOGIEs. The Commission may request the assistance of any department, bureau, office, or agency in the performance of these functions. 83 Art. XIII, Sec. 18. par. 5. As the country’s Gender Ombud, the Commission envisions a Philippine society that deeply values the dignity of every woman and every person including those with diverse SOGIEs. The Human Rights Education Program Plan for Women and persons with diverse SOGIE therefore, envisions to lay the groundwork for the continuous improvement of their human rights situation in the country and in raising the Philippine Human Rights standards by promoting their rights through a continuing program of education, training, and research. Thus, the goal of promotion and advocacy in relation to gender and development is to primarily develop an awareness of the meaning, content, and value of human rights of women and people of diverse SOGIEs; how their Human Rights are violated; how these violations may be prevented or redressed; and how their Human Rights might be enhanced. Derived from past good practices by the Commission, several strategies were identified to realize this goal: (1) establish a nationwide network of deputized educators and trainors who can be tapped to assist in capacitating individuals and organizations on GAD; This includes partnership with National Government Agencies, Local Government Units, and Civil Society Organizations in the development of training modules and in the conduct of promotion and advocacy work in relation to the MCW and the role of the Commission as Gender Ombud; (2) develop and disseminate learning aids and materials towards the achievement of respect for human rights of women and persons with diverse SOGIEs and increased participation in spreading the value of those rights, and CHR Gender Ombud Guidelines