Children and their

Predicament:
Situational Analysis

Shiena Realuyo-Base, RSW

Technical Specialist- Child Protection, Educo
December 15, 2021
Objective of the session:

• Understanding on the child protection situational analysis at the national, and regional context;
• To be familiarize with the child protection system in the country;and
• Learn on the child specific child rights and child protection issues in Zamboanga City, pre and
during COVID-19 pandemic
 Philippines Country Context in a Glance
Philippines is an archipelago composed of 7, 107 islands, divided into 17 Regions
with 81 Provinces. Provinces are composed of 145 Cities and 1,489 Municipalities.
Barangay (Village) is the smallest unit of the society, with total of 42, 036
barangays.

40% of Country’s Population

are Children (39M; 20 boys, 19
girls)

Source: Situational Analysis of Children in the Philippines, UNICEF 2018

 Philippines Country Context in a Glance
Prone natural disasters Ranked 5th among
14-17M Indigenous like typhoons, flooding,
drought, rain-induced the countries in
People belongs to
the world in terms
110 Ethno- landslides, volcanic
eruptions, storm surges of vulnerability to
linguistic group
and earthquakes. climate change

The Southern Philippines, 31.4% of children are

particularly BARMM, has
had a complex historyof
living below the basic
ethnic and armed conflict needs poverty line
over the past decades. nationally

Source: Situational Analysis of Children in the Philippines, UNICEF 2018

Child Protection Landscape in the Country
More than 500 adolescents are
becoming pregnant and giving birth
every day.

Philippines is one of the highest

teenage pregnancy – ASEAN
Member States

3.2 million children are

engaged in Child Labor
The risk of children to violence and abuse is further exacerbated in times of emergencies and natural disasters
including armed conflicts..
IMPACTS OF COVID-19 TO CHILDREN
Mobility limitation deprived children and pregnant women to access
essential services which can threaten children’s survival
▪ Pre and post-natal consultation including delivery services
▪ Immunization
▪ Micronutrient supplementation
▪ Supplementary feeding
▪ Deworming
▪ Growth monitoring program
▪ Nutrition education and advocacy
IMPACTS OF COVID-19 TO CHILDREN
IMPACTS OF COVID-19 TO CHILDREN

The current pandemic has brought many significant changes to people’s lives – routines
have been interrupted, jobs lost, financial stress, schools and businesses’ closure, and
widespread social distancing efforts to prevent virus’ spread and “flatten the curve”.

These factors combined increased risk for anxiety and depression.

The COVID-19 pandemic placed children at increased risk for online sexual exploitation.

According to the findings of the Philippine Kids Online Survey, 2 in 10 Filipino children are “vulnerable to be victims of child
online sexual exploitation and abuse” (UNICEF, 2020).

With the schools’ closure and the shift to online classes, children now spend more time online.
Without their parents’ close monitoring of their online activity, children are easily targeted by traffickers. According to t he 2015
study by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), information communication technologies (ICTs), such as mobile
devices with cameras and internet, help make child sexual abuse materials more accessible.

The internet helps facilitate the fast transmission of age-inappropriate materials to children in the same way it becomes a
platform where sexually explicit materials are made readily available to sexual predators
“Nawala yung karapatan naming maglaro sa labas, hindi na maayos ang
komunikasyon ng mga tao dito kasi hindi na kami nagkikita-kita, mas
inaasikaso namin ang pag-aaral dahil mahirap ang pagmo-module at
online learning.”
Increased number of cases of illegal arrest, detention, and punishment of violators of the lockdown
regulations are also observed in the first few months of the total lockdown.

Some of the most controversial media reports on human rights violations that transpired during the
COVID-19 pandemic involved children below 18 years old.
There were at least 3 incidents where children were inhumanely punished after violating
curfew, recorded in Laguna in March 2020 only.

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, LGBTQIA+ children are already among the most
vulnerable to violence mainly because of their “gender nonconformity” and the stigma in
their gender identity .
Zamboanga City’s
Child Protection
Situational
Analysis
Local Ordinance:
Child Welfare Code No. 275 of Zamboanga City
This policy recognizes the provision of child rights that is patterned on the 4 pillars of the Child Welfare Code namely Surv ival,
Protection, Security, and Participation. It also provides assistance on Family Support System and other related services for the
child’s welfare.
No. 550 (2020)
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF ORDINANCE NO. 275, SERIES OF 2006, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS "THE CHILD WELFARE CODE
OF ZAMBOANGA CITY", AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Enacted: 22 Dec 2020, as an urgent measure Approved: 28 Dec 2020
Local Ordinance:
No. 554 (2021)
AN ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR A COMMUNITY-BASED PSYCHIATRIC, NEUROLOGICAL AND PSYCHOSOCIAL HEALTH SERVICES AND PROPER REFERRAL SYSTEM IN THE CITY OF
ZAMBOANGA AND APPROPRIATING THE NECESSARY FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Enacted: 23 Feb 2021
Approved: 3 Mar 2021

No. 549 (2020)

PARAGAMES RECREATIONAL WELLNESS PROGRAM FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES INCLUDING CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES AND THOSE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS OF ZAMBOANGA CITY AND
PROVIDING FUNDS THEREOF
Enacted: 10 Dec 2020
Approved: 17 Dec 2020
Local Ordinance:
No. 548 (2020)
ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMUNITY ACTION AND RESOURCE FOR ACCESSIBLE BETTER LIVING (CARe-ABLE) PROGRAM FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES INCLUDING CHILDREN
WITH DISABILITIES AND THOSE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS IN THE BARANGAYS OF ZAMBOANGA CITY AND PROVIDING FUNDS THEREOF
Enacted: 10 Dec 2020
Approved: 17 Dec 2020

No. 543 (2020)

COMPREHENSIVE ANTI-DISCRIMINATION ORDINANCE IN THE CITY OF ZAMBOANGA
Enacted: 06 Oct 2020
Approved: 13 Oct 2020
Child Protection Issues:
High prevalence of child labor . Because of the economic status of the IP, their family and the community as a
whole, most of their children, the young adolescents boys, have been engaging in the labor workforce such the
canning factories, DPWH construction works, private construct works, sand and gravel businesses, “kargador”
those who carry heavy loads at certain stores, gasoline boys.

The girls go to work as sales ladies in some stores in the city proper, as house helps (“sulugu-on”,
“katabang”). While some of them till their land, do “copras” work, plant crops and vegetables, making “tuba”
(coconut wine).
Child Protection Issues:
Child labor and or teenage marriage, or even school drop-out are not priority concerns for common
IP family. It appears that the IP community is more concerned with providing food for the table,
sending their children to school, and settling down and making a family.

Child for “rent”- worst form of child labor associated to child trafficking, common to Badjao
communities. (Asmae, 2021)
 Child Protection Issues:
Unregistered Children

Children and families affected by conflicts– children on the move.

Low awareness on the child protection reporting mechanism

 Child Protection Issues:
Bullying

Child Marriage prevails in some IPs.

Teenage pregnancies.

Low awareness on the child protection reporting mechanism

 Number of reported Under Filed in Victim Refused to File a
VAC cases Investigation Court Complaint TOTAL

Rape 57 16 35 6 57

Physical Abuse 38 4 4 30 38

Other Acts of Abuse 17 4 3 10 17

Acts of Lasciviousness 8 2 3 3 8

Statutory Rape 3 0 3 0 3

Psychological Abuse 3 0 1 2 3

Custody of Minor 3 1 2 3

Harassment 2 0 1 1 2

2021 Status of the VAC

Lara, a 30-year-old mother of three, said she and her children endured the constant beatings of her husband in the last several
months because they depended on him for survival.

“I am not saying there were few cases, perhaps, reporting is fewer because of the pandemic. The victims could not go out on t he
day they were physically abused because of quarantine pass restrictions,” Lim said.
-Tumaga village chief

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1510622/pandemic-silenced-zamboangas-abused-women-kids-groups-say#ixzz7F2qLaje1
Child protection system
Key Learning Points:

Violence Against Children is a multifaceted and multi-contextual

issue given its diverse nature of being a human rights and public
health issue and a social problem as it occurs in different contexts,
such as at home, in schools, and in the community.
Thank you!