Is the Filipino Child OK?

Children are described as "persons below 18 years of age or those over 18 but are unable to fully take care or protect themselves from abuse, neglect, cruelty, exploitation or discrimination because of a physical or mental disability or condition" (as defined by Undersecretary Alicia Bala of the Department of Social Welfare and Development, 2007). Due to their vulnerability, it is imperative that every State ensure the realization of the child’s potentials in order for them to grow healthy and be productive citizens.

To emphasize the rights of children, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child in November 20, 1989. The convention was ratified in the Philippines on July 26, 1990 by virtue of Senate Resolution No. 109. The Philippines adopted specific goals for children during the World Summit for Children in 1990, paving the way for the drafting of the "Philippine Plan of Action for Children (PPAC) in the 1990s and Beyond" through Proclamation No. 855.

Further, as part of the Philippine Government’s commitment to the progressive implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, a framework for planning programs and interventions that promote and safeguard the rights of Filipino children otherwise known as the CHILD 21 (The Philippine National Strategic Framework for Plan Development for Children) was drafted. The Goal of CHILD 21 is to ensure that every Filipino child will exercise his/her rights throughout the life cycle.

Guaranteeing the realization of children’s rights is crucial for the Philippines, as the country has always been known to have a young population. Currently, there is an estimated 88.7 million Filipinos (NSO, 2007) and 34.6 million are below 18 years old (UNICEF). As illustrated in the population pyramid of the Philippines, it will take about 50 to 70 years before the country will begin its shift from a young population to an old population. But it has to be noted that by that time, the population of the Philippines will have almost tripled its size relative to the current population.

There are four (4) major children’s rights categories identified: Survival, Protection, Development, and Participation. These rights ought to be weaved throughout every developmental stages of the child to ensure a holistic approach in caring for the child.

Survival

The survival of the child is greatly affected by the health and nutrition of the mother, adequacy of primary health services, water and sanitation, and on how they are nourished and immunized against various diseases. Thus, if result to said indicators fall short, it would result to stunted growth or worse, to a child’s death.

A child’s death, especially during the first year of life, is a significant indicator of the socio-economic situation of the area. When a child is born, he is very susceptible to environmental factors since his immune system is still to be fully developed.

Twenty-four children are born per 1,000 Filipinos(UNICEF, 2005).

In the Philippines, the incidence of child death is still alarmingly high relative to its neighboring SoutheastAsian Countries.

For every 1,000 live births, fifteen Filipino babies die before turning one (UNICEF, 2005).

Leading causes of infant deaths are preventable diseases like poor respiratory conditions, malnutrition, and diarrhea (Philippine Health Statistics 2000, DOH).

According to the 2003 NDHS, only 60 percent of children were fully immunized. A fully immunized child means that before reaching 12 months, the child should have been vaccinated with one dose of BacillusCakmette -Guerin (for measles); three doses each of DPT (Diptheria, Pertusis, and Tetanus) and OPV (Oral Polio Vaccine) at four week intervals; and one dose of anti-measles vaccine between nine months and 12 months.

Incidence of malnutrition is another important indicator of child survival. However, millions of Filipino children are still not getting enough nutrition. Mothers, on the other hand, are not getting enough essential maternal care services from government, with wide variations between regions and between the educational levels of mothers.

A total of 3.4 M children aged 0-5 were underweight (PIDS, 2006).

Because pregnantwomen are prone to anemia, they are encouraged to have iron or folate supplementation. Compared to 87percent of women with college or higher education who received iron supplementation, the corresponding proportion for women with no education is only 30 percent. At the regional level, the percentage varies from 40 percent in ARMM to 89 percent in Caraga (2003 NDHS).

Development

The development of the child is influenced by his access to learning opportunities and the quality of learning. According to the CHILD 21 document, children who have had the benefit of appropriate and adequate early childhood care and development experiences tend to be better prepared for formal schooling and for the different realities in life.

The child’s development in the early years sets the stage for later success in school and for the child’s character in adolescence and adulthood.

Child under 5 participation rate in early childhood education: 95.8 percent (DepEd, 2005).

Only 7 out of 10 Grade 1 pupils reach Grade 6. More children drop out during the first three years of schooling (UNICEF).

Out of every 10 thirteen-year-old children, four do not move on to high school. Of those who enroll in high school, 5 out of 10 eventually drop out (UNICEF).

Cohort survival rates among children have declined through the years. Moreover, boys have lower survival rates compared to girls.

The cohort survival rate for elementary pupils in public schools decreased from 2002 (69.47 percent) to 2005 (62.58 percent). This trend is observed among females, (73.9 percent to 67.51 percent); and males, (from 65.49 percent to 58.20 percent) (Department of Education).

Data from the secondary level show that the total cohort survival rate in 2002 was 63.88 percent. In 2005, this was 54.99 percent. The cohort survival rates for males (56.71 percent; 47.64 percent) and females (71.22 percent; 62.42 percent) decreased during said time period (Department of Education).

Nutrition and physical health also play a significant part in the development of the child.

Due to iodine deficiency, about 300,000 Filipino babies are born each year with intellectual impairment (UNICEF).

According to the 2000 NSO Census, there were 201,869 children with disabilities. The most common forms of impairment are on hearing and vision and more than half are acquired and can be prevented.

Protection

Every child needs to be protected from situations that are generally beyond his control. Such situations include the incidence of HIV/AIDS, disabilities, homelessness, child abuse, commercial sexual exploitation, substance abuse, adolescent pregnancy, child labor, displacement, armed conflict, and being in conflict with the law.

Girl children tend to be more vulnerable to sexual abuses, gender stereotyping in education, and prostitution, and are more likely to be affected by HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmittable diseases.

From 2000–2005, there were 22,724 victims of sexual abuses (rape, incest, acts of lasciviousness). There is a decreasing trend from 2000 to 2005. 98.9 percent of these victims are girls.

According to the 2001 Philippine Survey on Children, there are a significant number of Filipino children who are forced to do labor (NSO, 2001):

There are four million child laborers;

The number of working children exposed to hazardous environments stands at 2.4 M or 59.4 percent;

More than 50 percent (2.1 million) of working children are engaged in agriculture, hunting, and forestry;

Fifty-nine percent or 2.4 million working children are unpaid workers in their own household-operated farm or business;

The proportion of working children who do not go to school stands at 36.5 percent.

In the Philippines, streetchildren (children who stay in the streets for more than four hours) are highly visible. According to a 2000 study by Dr. Exaltacion E. Lamberte of the De la Salle University Social Development Research Center, there is an estimated number of 45,000 to 50,000 “highly visible children in the streets” in the major cities of the country. These children are easy prey not only to accidents, but also to illicit transfer, commercial sexual exploitation, drugs, crime, and unwanted pregnancies.

As of 2006, there are 5,242 children in conflict with the law. According to a 1998 Situation Analysis on Children in Conflict with the Law and the Juvenile Justice System conducted by the Human Rights Center of the Ateneo Law School, the following is the average profile of the Filipino child in conflict with the law:

Usually male;

Between the ages of 14 and 17;

Elementary graduate;

Middle child; from low-income family;

Charged with property-related crimes, rape and murder;

Exposed to drugs or gang influence.

Participation

To let the child participate in societal development in accordance with their evolving capacities is to empower them in articulating or expressing what they think can be best for them.

Ensuring the birth registration of the child is protecting the right of the child to identity and to be able to actively participate in society. In the Philippines, the total birth registration rate is 83 percent (UNICEF, 2005).

Further, the child’s right to participate is enhanced through a family environment. However, most neglected or abandoned children are placed in institutions such as orphanages.

In the period 1998-2002, there were 2,602 children admitted to institutions and only 3,718 are discharged (DSWD).

It has been recommended by the DSWD and international agencies that no child should be placed in an institution on unclear terms or for an unlimited period. Residential care should be, as much as possible, temporary in nature and should be the last resort. The return and reintegration to the child’s own family or to an adoptive family should be a permanent objective and concern.

Studies by Parenting Foundation of the Philippines, Inc. have observed that the protection of child’s rights is more likely to be ensured in a foster home rather than in an institution. Moreover, accountability is easier to track in a foster family.

Since most indigenous children live in remote areas that are usually only accessible by foot, they tend to have limited access to basic social services. More often than not, they suffer from discrimination and neglect. In the Philippines, there are an estimated 2.5 million indigenous children (NCIP est. in 2005:12M all ages).

Conclusion

To truly care for our children, policies and program interventions must start from the health of the mother to the birth environment and further until adolescence. To empower a child, it is imperative that a child’s inherent rights—to survive, to develop his potentials, to be protected, and to participate in his community—must always be upheld.

The Life Cycle Approach in Promoting Children’s Rights

According to Child 21, the Philippine Government recognizes that full realization of children’s rights is necessary for the long term development of the nation. It is also committed to the progressive implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

A common classification has been adopted that can apply across all sectors in order to better observe the interplay of factors in the child in the life cycle. A life cycle framework provides a more holistic view of the child and, consequently, allows an integrated strategy that responds to gaps identified in the previous plan based on key indicators.

References: Department of Education. Basic Education Statistics. 2007; DSWD and BJMP, 2005; DSWD. National Project on Street Children. 2003; NSCB. 2002 Statistical Yearbook; NSO. 1995 and 2000 Censuses; NSO. National Demographic and Health Survey. 2003; NSO. Philippine Survey on Children. 2001; Philippine National Strategic Framework for Plan Development for Children (Child 21). 2000; UNICEF website (www.unicef.org/infobycountry/philippines_html).