118 Monitoring Templates Template 9 Women and Health ____________________ ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ Dear Sir/Madam, The Commission on Human Rights is designated as the Gender and Development Ombud under the Magna Carta of Women (RA 9710), as such, the Commission together with its Regional Offices investigates violations of the law and monitors jointly with the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) its implementation. As part of the Regional Office’s function as Gender Ombud within our area of responsibility, we are undertaking regional monitoring of compliance with the Magna Carta of Women. The results of the monitoring will form part of the Regional Women’s Human Rights Profile which the Region will be compiling by the end of the year. In relation to this and specific to the compliance with section 20 (Women’s Right to Health) and section 21 (Special Leave Benefits for Women) of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the Magna Carta of Women, the Office requests information regarding the following: 1. Information on whether or not the agency/LGU has adopted and implemented the guidelines on the 60 day special leave for women (on surgery caused by gynecological disorders) and leaves in cases of VAWC (RA 9262). Information is likewise requested on the number of women who availed of these leaves in 2015. 2. Information on whether or not a Region/Province/City/Municipality effort has been undertaken to adopt policies, programs, guidelines for the implementation of comprehensive, culturally sensitive and gender responsive health programs and services. This entails providing information on (a) current programs and policies on RH; (b) current guidelines; (c) number/ statistics of women able to avail of Reproductive Services within the Local Government Unit’s jurisdiction. For the Regional Department of Health (DOH), collated available information as enumerated above from different provinces, cities and municipalities is requested. As the Commission aims to compile a regional women’s human rights profile by the end of the year we expect to receive your agency’s reply fifteen (15) days from receipt of this letter. We also welcome any information/data which your office finds relevant for the monitoring of women’s/Lesbians, Gays, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) human rights situation in the region. Thank you and may we continue to work together to achieve women’s empowerment and gender equality. __________________ Regional Director CHR Gender Ombud Guidelines