GENDER OMBUD REPORT 2016 20 available. For women PWDs, sensitivity to their situation means provision of assistive devices and interpreters, but these are not always available. of customary laws and the community elders in resolving family disputes and gender-related issues. MARGINALIZED WOMEN (CHAPTER 5)27 Moro women face discrimination and abuse within their homes, communities, and workplaces. Many Moro women remain silent about these abuses because they have been brought up to believe they have lower status than men or “ubos sa laki”. In many instances, the decision not to report VAW cases is a family or a community matter, especially if reporting the abuse may result to rido or clan war. That their lives are also circumscribed by the volatility of peace and security in their communities, constant displacement due to conflicts or disasters, and the continuing struggle for Moro self-determination are also factors that affect women’s access to justice. The MCW recognizes of that some groups of women are especially marginalized in society, given the particularities of their situation or intersecting identities. These include indigenous women, Moro women, rural women, PWD women, solo parents, elderly women, women in the informal sector, and migrant workers. While not specifically identified in the MCW, the CHR also included in this section violence and discrimination against prostituted women, LGBTIs, young women, and teenage mothers. INDIGENOUS WOMEN MORO WOMEN Apart from VAW, other gender-based issues of Moro women identified are the following: The issues of IP women raised in the regional focus group discussions (FGDs) highlighted how the geographic isolation of indigenous cultural communities affect women’s access to information, facilities, and support services from the government addressing violence against women, as well as their access to basic social services such as health, education, employment, and vocational opportunities. Many of the IPs are also not listed in the civil registry and lack the necessary documents needed to enroll in public schools or find employment. 1. Lack of education and livelihood opportunities: Most female teenagers in the Muslim community are not in school and would rather earn a living for their families than go to school. Sterotypes also disadvantage IP women and girls. Badjaos and Aetas, for instance, are perceived as beggars, which affects their opportunities for employment. Even then, interventions to “empower” the Badjaos were observed to be culturally insensitive and inappropriate; thus the low uptake or failure of these services. Another issue highlighted was the role 3. Insensitivity to culture and practices: Some establishments require Moro women to wear short skirts as work uniform, which is contrary to their way of dressing. Women who wore niqab or hijab also suffer from work discrimination. 27 2. Labeling as terrorists: In Region IX, some employers engaged in retail sales refuse to hire Muslim women wearing hijab because it might turn away customers fearful of “terrorists”. The same reason also hinder Moro women from obtaining business permits, thus they have to seek help from Christian friends for this. Main source of information for this section are the regional focus group discussions and consultations on CEDAW and women’s access to justice.