Educate Filipino Girls and They Can Change the World
October 16, 2013
I would like to share this article about the summary of Plan International and Women and Gender Institute of Miriam College's study about the national situation of girl children in the Philippines.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Situation of Filipino Girls
More than ever, young girls in the world today face the worst forms of vulnerabilities and discrimination. Figures on violation of girl children’s rights are alarming. For instance, girls comprise the majority of trafficked children forced into prostitution1. Gender is inextricably linked in children’s experience of violence and abuse. Girls experience higher rates of domestic violence than boys, reinforcing male dominance in the household and the community, which consequently impede female empowerment. Although both girls and boys are subjected to violence and discrimination, the gravity is different and more difficult for girls due to the persistence of traditional norms and beliefs that impinge on the construction of gender roles.
In the Philippines, several legislative measures have been adopted by the government to ensure the protection of children and to provide for their special needs, consistent with the provision of the 1987 Philippine Constitution. There are also government institutions established for the purpose of implementing programs and projects for children.
Despite these efforts, the situation of children in the country remains dismal, largely because of widespread poverty, especially in rural areas. They are involved in complex issues such as crimes committed by street children, child trafficking and prostitution, early marriage, teenage pregnancy, as well as vulnerable conditions requiring special protection. Examples of these vulnerable conditions include those experienced by children in areas affected by conflict, calamity, and natural disasters. While indeed these situations are experienced by both girls and boys, the precarious case of girls make them vulnerable to these problems and heighten their impact on them.
Plan International commissioned the Women and Gender Institute (WAGI) of Miriam College to conduct a scoping study of the national situation of girl children in the Philippines, specifically to:
- Look for the patterns and trends of violations against the rights of girl children in the Philippines in existing reports and government data
- Present the conditions of girl children in key areas outside of Metro Manila through focus group discussions
- Discuss existing national policies, strategies, and programs to address those issues
Key Findings of the Report
1 Poverty and social inequality create a disabling environment for the observance of the rights of the girl child. Based on the 2010 census, the Philippines has a population of 92.34 million. A little more than half of the population are children, and half of whom are girls. In the past ten years, the Philippine economy achieved an average annual growth rate of five percent. However, nearly a third of Filipinos remain poor, making it difficult for families to get by on a daily basis. The literature, data, and responses from the focus group discussions (FGDs) indicate that girl children from poor families are disadvantaged and fall prey to child labor, exploitation and lack of access to basic services primarily because of their status in life. Efforts to make growth more inclusive and trickle down to the poor are long-term strategies that could ultimately improve the welfare of the girl child.
2 There is a dearth of data segregated at the level of the girl child. This lack of disaggregated data results in laws, policies, and programs that do not cater specifically to the unique needs of the girl child. Except for the Magna Carta of Women, which has specific provisions on the girl child, current laws hardly reflect or address their situation.
3 Data on child labor and the FGDs indicate that girl children often work as household helpers usually at age 15 to 17. To address this, advocacy on the Senate ratification of ILO Convention 189 on Domestic Workers and its national legal counterpart, the Kasambahay Law, should be scaled up.
4 The right to education is consistently recognized by girl children. However, in general, the FGD showed that children displayed ambivalence toward the right to play, the right to their opinion, and the right to be free from child labor and child abuse. This not only indicates a lack of knowledge on the Convention on the Rights of the Child’s main tenets but also shows that cultural norms and family circumstances impinge on how children perceive their rights. To address this, better targeted education campaigns, particularly on these rights, must be scaled up at the national and local government levels. Corporal punishment of children must also be penalized.
5 New forms of commercial sexual exploitation, which is often difficult to track, have emerged. Parents of children as young as three years old initiate their children to child pornography. These developments indicate that child protection and anti-child pornography laws must have sufficient budget to enable law enforcers to update themselves with new crime prevention technologies.
6 IP children experience multiple discrimination and violation of their rights. The experiences shared by Mamanwa children during the FGDs indicate that IP children experience discrimination and bullying in schools due to their skin color and hair type. These are not only violations of their rights as children but also of their IP status. To address this, there must be specific advocacies geared towards the rights of IP children and capacity building of non-IP children’s acceptance of IP children.
7 The experiences of Filipino girl child soldiers depict not only the horrors of conflict and their impact on children but also their gender dimensions. To resolve this, the current peace process must take into account the situation of all child soldiers and the specific situation of girl child soldiers. Rehabilitative measures within the family, school, and communities must also be taken to ensure that children are able to recover and live normal lives when they return from battle.
Recommendations
1 Mobilize a broad range of supporters of the girl child. While the advocacy for women and children has been in place in the realm of civil society and the government, advocacy for the girl child still has to be widened and deepened.
2 Develop and advocate sex-disaggregated indicators for children. While data and indicators on children have been in place, there is a need to enhance this by urging data generation systems to disaggregate indicators by sex. Local government units can be encouraged to add questions on the girl child in their Community Based Monitoring System (CBMS).
3 Create an oversight committee on the girl child in Congress. Advocate among senators and congressional representatives the creation of an oversight committee on the girl child in both Houses of Congress. The establishment of this bicameral subcommittee will help ensure that legislation and oversight of government agencies on girl children will be given due attention.
4 Use the gender and development (GAD) budget for the girl child. Following the Magna Carta of Women’s specific provisions on the girl child, government agencies should incorporate issues of the girl child in formulating their GAD plans and in utilizing the GAD budget.
5 The achievement of the MDGs, specifically Goal 5 (Maternal Health), will ultimately improve the well-being of the girl child. To address this issue, the comprehensive reproductive health law, which is pending in Congress, must be approved. The comprehensive reproductive health law is expected to address the rising maternal mortality rate and the increase in teenage pregnancy, among others.
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References:
1United Nations Children’s Fund. (2012). State of the World’s Children 2012: Children in An Urban World.
2 United Nations Children’s Fund. (2011). State of the World’s Children 2011: Adolescence, An Age of Opportunity.
3 A series of focus group discussions with girl children were conducted in three areas: Bicol, Iloilo, and Agusan del Sur. Rural/urban dimension were considered in identifying specific sites for the FGDs. Specifically for Agusan del Norte, the target respondents were the Mamanwa children, while street children were the target in Iloilo, and abused children in Bicol.
4 Based on the National Statistics Office “Gender QuickStat” Fourth Quarter of 2011.
5 Philippines Overview. World Bank, Available at http://www.worldbank.org/en/country/philippines/overview. Retrieved on 10 June 2012.
6 From 1999 to 2009, the UNFPA reported that the number of teenage pregnancies has risen 70 percent, from 114,205 in 1999 to 195,662 in 2009. United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). 2011. Annual Report.
As stated on the article, recommendations are made by the Philippine government on measures and programs on how to include Filipino girls as one of its priorities. On top of that, I strongly believe that good education is the greatest key for Filipino girls to escape from poverty, corruption, high risks of HIV-AIDS infection, conditions that may lead to population growth, abuse, prostitution, crime, and terrorism. As Sheryl Wudunn, business executive, entrepreneur, best-selling author, and first Asian-American to win a Pulitzer Prize, said, “You educate a girl and she can change the world around her."
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| Courtesy: halftheskymovement.tumblr.com |
It applies to all girls not just in the Philippines but all over the world. As studies show, educated girls can change the fate and situation of their families, their communities, their country, and the whole world as well. We've known women who become greatest leaders, scientists, artists, and other professionals who have influences globally. They are educated. They are equipped with knowledge of their rights and skills to contribute to the society---to made positive changes with their lives and families, and influence others to help change the world.
| Courtesy: www.cnn.com |
Girls still have lesser opportunity than boys in school enrolment and
academic achievement globally despite the fact that the importance of education for girls is generally
acknowledged.
In line with this, Intel Philippines, Asian Development Bank, and Plan International drive awareness on girls' education through community screenings here in Metro Manila of "GIRL RISING" that showcases power of education to change the world.
This project was launched last October 11, 2013 to celebrate the International Day of the Girl. This project runs until November 30, 2013.
Click the link below to know the details of the said event.
Intel, Plan International, and Asian Development Bank Drive Awareness on Girls’ Education through "GIRL RISING"
The promotion of the importance of education is the first step to start change. Information drive such as this can make a lot of difference in the society's perspective about giving opportunities for girls to pursue education .
