CHR AS GENDER OMBUD:
Under the Magna Carta of Women (RA 9710), the Commission on Human Rights is the country’s Gender and Development Ombud. As such the GenderBased Violence (GBV) Observatory was established to accomplish its function. The Regional Offices conducted the mapping of legal referral mechanisms on
gender based violence through Focus Group Discussion (FGD).
As the Gender and Development (GAD) Ombud, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) is mandated to monitor women’s human rights, especially
women in the marginalized sectors, including the women fisherfolks. The focus on the experiences of women fisherfolks had been very occasional, not to mention
their specific issues and situations. The Philippines is an archipelago whose one of the primary sources of food and income is through fishing. Fisherfolks are among
the sectors affected by the effects of the ongoing pandemic. Women fisherfolks face even more compounded vulnerabilities because of various forms of violence
instigated by this health crisis.
The Commission on Human Rights Region 3 conducted Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) on the situation of fisherfolks and women and girls at risk of
trafficking and other forms of Gender-Based Violance (GBV) during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The FGD focusing on women fisherfolks was conducted at Iba, Zambales. It was attended and participated by women fisherfolks and representatives from
the different agencies/service providers. Based on the result, most participants recognized the importance of
the activity. They described the activity as a “learning and sharing opportunity”, while other
participants expressed it as “an eye opener for the government to hear their voices as women
fisherfolks.
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