3. Identify the challenges and barriers as well as document the good practices in reporting and investigation, prosecution and legal assistance, and providing support services; 4. Derive recommendations and proposals to improve the services and facilities offered by mechanisms on the ground; and 5. Focus on the responses to and experiences of the most vulnerable and excluded. Atty. Anna Leah Romero then proceeded to discuss the role of CHR as Gender Ombud, its activities and programs, and provide an overview of the Gender Ombud Guidelines. She also presented the situation of women and LGBTQI persons in terms of human rights violations. She enumerated the following legal basis: 1. Universal Declaration of Human Rights which states that “all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights 2. Article II, 1987 Philippine Constitution – “the State values the dignity of every human person and guarantees full respect for human rights” 3. Yogyakarta Principle – “human beings of all sexual orientations and gender identities are entitled to the full enjoyment of all human rights” She then went on to discuss the role of CHR as Gender Ombud, foremost of which is the advocacy for the promotion and protection of women’s human rights and strengthen human rights education. CHR also conducts investigations on violations including those committed by private institutions and private individuals. They also monitor compliance of agencies and private institutions with the provisions of the Magna Carta for Women and recommend appropriate measures for its effective implementation. The CHR Gender Ombud Guidelines was adopted on April 21, 2015 which operationalized the role of CHR as Gender Ombud as follows: 1. Investigation of individual complaints and institutional violations of the provisions of MCW 2. Legal aid and other support services 3. Monitoring of MCW compliance 4. Gender Ombud advisories 5. Human Rights promotion and advocacy Said Guidelines also includes the following protocols: Protocol 1 – Handling of Women’s Cases Protocol 2 – Handling Cases of Girl Children Protocol 3 – Handling Cases involving Persons with Diverse Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and Expression (SOGIE) Atty. Romero then proceeded to discuss the idea behind SOGIE thru the so-called Genderbread Person as shown in the illustration below: Sex – either male, female and intersex based on biological attributes at birth 4 | Page