GENDER OMBUD REPORT 2016 to justice, particularly of the disadvantaged groups of women, the Committee reminded the State to “ensure equal rights, opportunities and protection for women facing multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination and on reproductive health,” and recommended the full implementation of its previous recommendation on ensuring full access to modern contraceptives and legalization of abortion under certain circumstances.37 Lastly, the CEDAW Committee’s concluding observations emphasized the need to accelerate substantive equality, taking into account women facing multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination. SOGIE MANDATE HOLDER During the HRC deliberation for the SOGIE mandate holder, the CHR, through its Chairperson, Jose Luis Martin C. Gascon, urged the Philippine Government to vote in favour of the mandate holder. It joined the call of National Human Rights Institutions all over the world that supported the SOGIE mandate holder. While the Philippine government abstained during the votation, the CHR urged the Department of Foreign Affairs to support the mandate holder in view of the current challenges. The CHR also issued a Gender Ombud Advisory in support of “NHRIs for LGBTIs Inclusion in the Social Development Goals (SDGs)” for the 2016 Global Conference on LGBTI in Uruguay. 32 UNIVERSAL PERIODIC REVIEW In preparation for the Philippine Report to the UPR in 2017, the Commission’s Policy Office and GEWHRC with support from UN Women, conducted a consultation on the effective engagement with the UPR process. The consultation included a review of the past UPR processes, the adopted recommendations, and inputs from different sectors (e.g., migrants, LGBTs, indigenous women and persons with disabilities). The consultation output included substantial documentation of the discussion, a briefer on the UPR process, and a situationer on pressing human rights concerns. STATEMENTS AND GENDER OMBUD ADVISORIES Statements and Gender Ombud Advisories are issued by the CHR to call for respect for women’s human rights and the rights of persons with diverse SOGIE. A few of these issuances include the CHR statements opposing the showing of the alleged sex video of Senator Leila De Lima during the Congressional Inquiry, and on zero-tolerance for VAW. Title of Gender Ombud Advisory, Position Paper or Issuance Calling Support for the Establishment of an Independent Expert on Protection Against Violence and Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity NHRIs for LGBTI Inclusion in the Sustainable Development Goals (Message of Support for the 2016 Global Conference on LGBTI in Montevideo, Uruguay) Manila Standard Headline, Degrade, Demean and Discriminate 36 37 CEDAW/C/PHL/CO/7-8, par. 19-20 Id. par Date Issued 24 June 2016 Offices involved GEWHRC 11 July 2016 GEWHRC 21 September 2016 GEWHRC