the need to surface the gendered nature of the pandemic and its effects, the Policy Brief issued by Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights emphasized how the ‘pandemic is deepening pre-existing inequalities’ and how ‘across every sphere, from health to the economy, security to social protection, the impacts of COVID-19 are exacerbated for women and girls simply by virtue of their sex.’2 Guidance notes from the United Nations Populations Fund on a gendered response to COVID-19 emphasize that women and girls are disproportionately affected by epidemics. In particular, women and girls who face multiple forms of inequalities due to disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, age and ethnic minority may be even more vulnerable.3 Health crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic compounds existing gender inequalities, it is expected to disproportionately increase women and girls’ unpaid care work in the household and in taking care of the sick, and it also increases risks of gender-based violence and sexual exploitation and abuse.4 In terms of support, women and girls’ needs are often left behind in the response, menstrual and hygiene kits are often forgotten, provisions for family planning and other reproductive health commodities and services are not provided for, and special needs of pregnant and lactating women may not be priorities. 5 Access to relief and support services for Lesbians, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Intersex persons may be affected by stigma and prejudice against them and LGBQI++ families may run the risk of not obtaining safety nets accorded to families in general. They can also run the risk of GBV, being confined in possibly hostile spaces in their own families and communities during the Enhanced Community Quarantine. All these differentiated impacts of COVID-19 can leave huge protection gaps for women and LGBQI++ persons.6 GBV Data Pre-COVID 19 In the Philippines, the 2017 National Demographic Health Survey reports that 1 out of 4 married women in the Philippine have experienced violence, it also reports that only 1/3 of those who experience violence seek help.7 The Commission’s Mapping of Gender Based-Violence Legal Referral Mechanisms 8 last 2019 has documented the continuing gaps in accessing justice in cases of gender-based violence, the gaps include lack of information and knowledge of the laws, and of protection and referral mechanisms, accessibility of and availability of services specially for women with disabilities, women in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDA) and other women facing multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination. 9 Other gaps included the difficulty of referrals for psychosocial and shelter support, lack of support for women survivors’ livelihood and economic independence, as well gaps pertaining to the insensitivity of service providers. These initial reports were also echoed in the Commission’s 2019 National Inquiry on the 2 OHCHR. COVID-19 Guidance Documents. https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/COVID19Guidance.aspx UNFPA Asia Pacific Program. Guidance Note on COVID-19 4 UNFPA Asia Pacific Program. Guidance Note on COVID-19 5 UNFPA Asia Pacific Program. Guidance Note on COVID-19 6 OHCHR. COVID-19 Guidance Documents. https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/COVID19Guidance.aspx 7 NDHS 2017 8 The GBV Mapping of Legal Referral Mechanisms funded by Go Just was undertaken in 15 of the Commissions’ 16 regional offices, through focus group discussions with the government agencies, women’s organizations and community women the Mapping has gathered data from 30 cities/municipalities all over the country. The final report is still being consolidated by the CHR Gender Equality and Women’s Human Rights Center. 9 These include: Indigenous Women, Elderly Women, Women with Disability, Rural Women, Urban Poor Women, Women in context of armed conflict and other humanitarian conditions ; 3 2