GENDER OMBUD REPORT 2016 underprivileged whose human rights are violated and who needed protection; exercise visitorial power over jails, prisons and detention facilities; establish a continuing research, education, and information program to enhance respect for the primacy of human rights; recommend to Congress effective measures to promote human rights and provide assistance or compensation to victims of human rights violations (HRV) or their families; monitor the Philippine government’s compliance with international treaty obligations on human rights; grant a person immunity from prosecution whose testimony, possession of documents or other evidence necessary for an investigation under its authority; and request assistance of government agencies in the performance of its functions, among other duties.3 The mandate of the CHR is further expanded by statutory legislations. These laws include the Anti-Violence Against Women and Children Act of 2004, the Juvenile Justice Welfare Act of 2006, the Anti-Torture Act of 2009, the Magna Carta of Women Act of 2009, the Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide, and Other Crimes Against Humanity of 2009, the Anti-Enforced Disappearance Law of 2012, and the Human Rights Victims Reparation and Recognition Act of 2013. The CHR is mandated as the Gender and Development Ombud under the Magna Carta of Women.4 It has the following functions: • monitor with the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW), duties related to the human rights of women, including their right to nondiscrimination guaranteed under the Magna Carta; designate one (1) commissioner and/ or its Women’s Human Rights Center to be primarily responsible for formulating and implementing programs and activities related to the promotion and protection of the human Section 3, Executive Order 163 Section 39, R.A. 9710 otherwise known as the Magna Carta of Women. 5 Ibid. 3 4 2 rights of women, including the investigations and complaints of discrimination and violations of their rights brought under this Act and related laws and regulations; • establish guidelines and mechanisms, among others, that will facilitate access of women to legal remedies under the Magna Carta of Women and related laws, and enhance the protection and promotion of the rights of women, especially marginalized women; • assist in the filing of cases against individuals, agencies, institutions, or establishments that violate the provisions of the Magna Carta; and • recommend to the President of the Philippines or the Civil Service Commission any possible administrative action based on noncompliance or failure to implement the provisions of the Magna Carta.5 Underlying the above is the CHR’s role to protect and promote the rights of women notwithstanding of race, class, ethnicity, origin, SOGIE, age, religion, belief, political affiliation, disability, or other status, giving particular consideration to the marginalized groups of women, and the intersectionality of their identities. STRENGTHENING INTERNAL STRUCTURES AND CAPACITIES From 2015 to 2016, the CHR conducted several activities to build its internal structures and capacities to fulfil its role as Gender Ombud. ESTABLISHING THE GENDER OMBUD GUIDELINES The CHR conducted writeshops and consultations to come up with a comprehensive Gender Ombud Guidelines. It engaged the Philippine Commission on Women in the process, as well as civil society organizations (CSOs) and national government