Summary of Recommendations from Consultative Meetings
The following are the major recommendations to promote human rights of girl children, as
gathered from the series of consultations conducted in 2017. These recommendations were
provided by the participating girl children and civil society organizations
1. Systematically gather age-, disability- and gender-disaggregated data differentiated
according to urban and rural demographics.
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The Philippine Statistics Authority has recently released a factsheet on women and men
containing vital national information on demographics, education, work and employment,
health and nutrition income and expenditure, tourism, and social welfare and development
indicating results for men and women. The report contains information on the youth. This is a
welcome development.
A more intensive effort to purposely generate and collect information on the situation of girls is
needed for better policy and program interventions. Efforts should be made at all levels of local
government, in collaboration with national agencies, to gather data concerning girls in urban
and rural areas and girls with disabilities.
2. Probe violence against girls in situations of displacement, armed conflict and disasters.
Armed conflict and disaster situations aggravate vulnerability of girls to child and sexual abuse,
as seen from the reports from civil society organizations. Situation of girls in evacuation centers
should be monitored to prevent the occurrence of gender-based violence among women and
girl children.. It is important to enable action by community members and the government at
multiple levels.
3. Design holistic, age- and disability- appropriate interventions and services particularly
for victims of sexual abuse.
Civil society organizations assert that cases involving girls with disability should be handled
differently to avoid traumatization. Greater cooperation is needed among government agencies
and professionals (eg lawyers, interpreters, child care providers) in order to design a holistic
and appropriate package of interventions for girl victim-survivors of sexual abuse.
4. Intensify enforcement of laws protecting rights of girl children.
Effectively implement laws particularly those protecting girls against child abuse and various
forms of sexual abuse. More careful attention is needed in responding to cases involving girls
from marginalized sectors, such as those with disabilities, or those coming from the rural areas.
Design ways to make monitoring and interagency committees already established in local
government units more effective in terms of addressing trafficking and violence against girls.
Violence committed through technology and the internet calls for a more coordinated and
response from law enforcement and other duty bearers.
5. Improve access to education and information on gender and sexuality.
The participants recommend to have an intensive effort to provide age-appropriate education
on gender and sexuality for girls. Awareness and information may lead to informed choices
about sexuality and could prevent unwanted and early pregnancy.
See Philippine Statistical Authority. (2017 March). Factsheet on Women and Men in the Philippines.
www.psa.gov.ph
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