CEDAW/C/SR.1405 46. Ms. Verzosa (Philippines) said that the Commission on Human Rights was not empowered to conduct investigations. A bill was pending in Congress, however, to strengthen the mandate of the Commission. A recommendation to that effect by the Committee in its concluding observations would be welcome, as a broader mandate would improve the Commission’s ability to follow up on reported violations of the Convention. While it was regrettable that the case of the minor who had been subjected to discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation had been dismissed by a lower court, it was expected that an appeal against the decision would be brought. 47. Ms. Gbedemah said that the Committee would appreciate disaggregated data on the participation of persons with disabilities in public life. 48. Ms. Jahan asked whether a comprehensive awareness-raising strategy was in place aimed at target groups, such as traditional and religious leaders and judicial officials, to combat the patriarchal attitudes entrenched in society. She asked what action the Government took in response to derogatory and discriminatory statements made by public officials. She would like further information on the possibility of introducing gender sensitivity training for all Government officials. 49. In view of the underreported violence against women owing to stigmatization, she asked what was being done to encourage women to lodge formal complaints and to raise awareness of the criminal status of acts of violence against women. She wished to know why violence against women had increased between 2011 and 2015 and whether prosecutions had been brought and sanctions imposed. She would like to know what policy measures had been taken to counter the culture of impunity relating to acts of violence against women, including rape, and whether the State party envisaged adopting broader legislation in order to cover all forms of violence, such as violence against persons with disabilities and indigenous persons, violence in the context displacement due to armed conflict and natural disasters and stalking. She wondered whether an assessment had been carried out to determine the impact of the all-female unit in the National Police for crimes committed against women on the rate of domestic violence and the extent to which women police officers were involved in investigations into such cases. Information would be appreciated on the women’s desks in police stations, which were reported to be largely inoperative. Lastly, could the delegation provide information on the number of shelters for women in the country? 50. Ms. Gabr said that trafficking in persons both within and outside the country would remain a problem as long as the levels of poverty persisted in the State party. She asked whether the Government envisaged reviewing legislation on offences related to trafficking in persons, such as the law to combat the practice of mail-order brides. She also wondered whether there were plans to collect data, disaggregated by age and sex, on the causes of trafficking in persons in the most heavily affected regions, with an eye to prevention, protection and awareness-raising. Noting that victims of trafficking were often placed in protection shelters with victims of domestic violence, she highlighted the importance of establishing shelters specifically for women victims of trafficking. She asked what plans were in place for the improvement of victim identification and referral mechanisms to prevent the recurrent exploitation of women for the purposes of trafficking. Further information would be appreciated on reports of trafficking of women with disabilities and on plans to deal with that particular problem. Procedures for the prosecution of traffickers and officials conspiring with perpetrators should be strengthened, and proceedings concerning trafficking in persons should be streamlined. What accounted for the delay in the adoption of the anti-prostitution bill and when was the bill expected to be passed? What measures were envisaged to discourage the demand for prostitution and to protect and rehabilitate the women involved? GE.16-11608 9