CHR’s Roles as NHRI and Gender Ombud The Commission on Human Rights, as a National Human Rights Institution monitors the country’s implementation of its treaty obligations and other human rights commitments. This include commitments on women peace and security. However, the Commission has yet to adopt an agency plan on the implementation of the NAP WPS. It is only through its general mandate of promotion, protection, and policy, that the Commission and its regional offices have been performing functions responding to the NAP-WPS. As a National Human Rights Institution and as Gender Ombud, the Commission and its regional offices has been consistent in (a) monitoring armed conflict and areas of armed conflict particularly its impact on human rights; (b) gathering stories from ground and investigating alleged human rights violations in the context of armed conflict; (c) in cases of displacement, the Commission has likewise championed the observance of the UN Guiding Principles on Internally displaced Persons. In terms of promotion, the Commissions’ regional offices regularly conduct capacity building on International Humanitarian Law and UNGPID; while Policy wise, it has issued advisories calling for the observance of human rights standards during and after conflict such as in the case of the Zamboanga Siege and the Marawi crisis; it also regularly submits the findings of monitoring missions to concerned agencies for appropriate action. For the past years for instance, the Commission’s central and regional offices have been conducting monitoring of human rights situation in the context of the continuing displacement in Zamboanga City, in post-conflict Marawi City, and in areas with protracted armed conflict in Lianga, Surigao Del Sur. Through the Gender Equality and Women’s Human Rights Center (GEWHRC) and the Child Rights Center CRC) monitoring of the gendered and child impact of armed conflict and displacement has been previously surfaced through FGDs with displaced women and children. Nevertheless, there is no question that there is a need to further mainstream women, peace, and security within the Commission, to highlight women’s human rights in the process, to monitor how effectively General Recommendations 30 is implemented, and how responsive are the efforts to the issues raised by women and girls affected by the conflict. There is likewise no question that the Commission, as an NHRI and as Gender Ombud has to strengthen its role in contributing to the goals of women, peace, and security and in responding to current and pressing human rights issues of women and girls on the ground. The conduct of the CHR Forum on Women, Peace, and Security is a step towards this direction. Through a forum that engages partner agencies, CSOs, and oversight offices of the Commission’s central offices, through highlighting current regional efforts and issues, and through seeking the views of experts on WPS and on issues on the ground, a step is taken towards a more responsive CHR as Gender Ombud. We have Region X - Atty JV, the Regional Director is here. CAR, with Atty Rommel Daguimol, and representatives as well of CHR-XII and CHR-CARAGA. They are joined by partner NGOs who will later on expound on their experiences and challenges in responding to WPS and the role that they see for the CHR as Gender Ombud. Experts speakers on WPS will also share their grounded experiences on WPS. Page 33​ of 62