FOCUS GROUP DISCUSSION WITH WOMEN FISHERFOLKS and KEY INFORMANT INTERVIEW WITH GOVERNMENT SERVICE PROVIDERS CHR REGIONAL OFFICE XII REPORT I. INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES OF THE ACTIVITY n October 13, 2020 the Commission on Human Rights – Region XII in coordination with Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa (SENTRO) – General Santos City Chapter conducted the Focused Group Discussion (FGD) on the Situation of Women Fisherfolks and Women and Girls at Risk of Trafficking and Other Forms of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) During COVID-19 Pandemic and New Normal in General Santos City. The venue was provided by SENTRO - Gensan who also facilitated in the identification of Women Fisherfolks who attended the FGD. The FGD was conducted through face-to-face since the participants do not have access to the internet. However, the same was conducted following the minimum health protocols so as to protect both the participants and the facilitators. Participants were provided with face mask, face shield and a small bottle of alcohol as part of the training kit. A total of sixteen (16) women fisherfolks attended the FGD who were divided into two (2) groups to observe the minimum health protocols implemented in the city. Prior to the FGD, an orientation on the mandates of the Commission on Human Rights as Gender Ombud was given in plenary. Afterwhich, the Focal Person on Gender presented to the participants a situationer on women fisherfolk. She likewise discussed the rationale and the objectives of the activity. On the part of Government Service Provider, a Key Informant Interview (KII) was conducted. The questionnaires were sent to identified and selected Regional Line Agencies (RLAs) and were collected back for consolidation. However, a face-to-face KII was conducted to the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources - XII by the CHR-XII Gender Focal Person. The following are the objectives of the activity presented to the participants; General objectives: ● Establish a baseline pertaining to the roles and participation of women in small scale fishing, and of the issues of women fisherfolks including trafficking and GBV, the implementation of MCW provisions on women fisherfolks, and the impact of the pandemic; ● Gather regional data on women fisherfolks and GBV during the COVID-19 Pandemic and the new normal, creating partnerships with communities and CSOs and strengthening CHR regional office’s situation monitoring on women in the marginalized sectors as Gender Ombud in their respective regions; More specific objectives: 1. To render visible and document the roles and tasks undertaken by women fisherfolks in the household and in the community; 1 | Situation of Women Fisherfolks and Women and Girls at Risk of Trafficking and other Forms of GBV during COVD-19 Pandemic and the New Normal