B.1 Gender-Based Violence Observatory Project The objective of the Gender-Based Violence Observatory Project is to harness the capacities of the Commission’s 16 Regional Office in monitoring functionality of referral mechanisms, providing recommendations, and influencing enhanced functionality and responsiveness of local inter-agency mechanisms to respond to VAW; it aims to strengthen Commission’s mandate as Gender Ombud; Gather Regional date on GVB during the COVID-19 Pandemic and the new normal, particularly highlighting trends, gap, challenges, best practices, and key recommendations to enhance response; Another specific objective is to document and map GBV legal referral mechanisms during the COVID 19 crisis and the impact of the pandemic on legal referral mechanisms; Partner with duty bearers and community women, women CSOs/NGOs in the conduct of mapping of legal referral mechanisms during the COVID 19 pandemic; Identify the most prevalent forms of GBV during the ECQ and post ECQ period and observable trends in GBV and GBV response like cases types, sectors, areas more prevalent, increase or decrease in reporting. Document how the referral systems adopted to or failed to adopt to the ECQ period and the new normal to respond to cases of GBV ,document key challenges posed in responding to GBV during ECQ and new normal at the Barangay level, the Women’s desk level, Prosecution level and from the perspectives of community women and women’s organizations, Identify lessons learned from the Pandemic in terms of improving GBV response, forward key recommendations to inter agency mechanisms mandated to address different forms of GBV. The gaps mentioned included 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. She also highlighted the gaps in the provision of crucial support services for women survivors of violence, particularly provision of psychosocial support, livelihood, shelter, and financial support to process the filing of cases. There are a lot of forms to fill-out in barangays and in other agencies when abused women are to testify. As much as possible, they recommend that there should be only one form to fill-out to avoid relieving the experienced traumas of the victims. Also, it shall have an inter-agency or unity among CHR: Dignity of all Address: 2F Mary Grace Building Colago Avenue cor. M.L. Quezon St., Barangay I-A San Pablo City, Laguna 4000 Contact numbers: (049)562-5415/ 09156920530/ 09396384786 E-mail: chr4_sanpablo@yahoo.com Page 41 of 54