Filipino children miss education, suffer from emotional distress due to conflict – 2024 report

A majority of Filipino girls affected by conflict have missed out on education and endured significant emotional distress, according to the 2024 State of the World’s Girls (SOTWG) report.

Conducted by Plan International, a global child rights and humanitarian organization, the report surveyed over 10,000 children and young people across 10 countries, including the Philippines. It also provides an analysis of how conflict impacts Filipino youth, based on the experiences of 997 total survey respondents (500 girls and 497 boys) and insights gathered through 18 in-depth interviews.

The findings reveal the far-reaching consequences of conflict on education, mental health, and livelihood opportunities, with girls and young women bearing the brunt of the struggle because of both their gender and age.

EDUCATIONAL DISRUPTION

Among the 238 Filipino respondents, 26.9% reported missing school due to conflict. The main reasons for this disruption were being forced to flee their homes (28.6%), needing to work for income (22.7%), and school closures (20.6%).

Girls and young women, in particular, have been severely impacted, often turning to informal work or starting small businesses to support their families. Fatima, a 15-year-old girl, shared how she stopped attending school when she was just 10 years old because of the ongoing violence and cannot access alternative learning programs due to the continued conflict in her area.

“Men are affected too, but women even more so, because they are responsible for small children, and they don’t have anyone to help them care for or carry their children when we evacuate,” she said.

EMOTIONAL TOLL ON DISPLACED YOUTH

The report further highlights the psychological impact of conflict, especially on young people affected by displacement and violence, with 33.9% of the 769 respondents reporting sleep difficulties, 33.6% experiencing constant worry, and 33% feeling tense.

“Sometimes we sleep well, sometimes [we don’t] because we have a lot on our minds. We struggle, and I see my wife worrying about sanitation and bathing,” said Khalid, 21.

RECRUITMENT BY ARMED GROUPS

Alarmingly, 11.4% of respondents (111 out of 975) reported being approached to join or support armed groups. Among those who joined, 50.5% said they did so voluntarily, while 15.3% were influenced by persuasive information.

ECONOMIC AND LIVELIHOOD STRUGGLES

Conflict has disrupted the livelihoods of many families, forcing them to reduce food intake, exhaust their savings, and rely on less nutritious food. Financial support was identified as the most critical unmet need by 41.5% of respondents, followed by employment assistance (18.7%) and emotional and social well-being services (14.5%). Ensuring food security and access to basic necessities also remains a priority for 23.7% of the respondents.

DESIRE FOR PEACE

When asked about peacebuilding actions they believe should happen in the country to help end conflict, 53.2% of the 951 respondents called for peace talks, 19.7% advocated for ceasefires, 17.2% supported community peacebuilding initiatives, and 17% emphasized the importance of youth participation in peace processes.

In addition, the report revealed that 29.9% of the participants had lived through over 15 years of conflict, highlighting the enduring impact of violence on children’s lives.

Mahid, 18, shared, “The number of times we evacuated is countless. [We] would be cooking and we’d have to leave our food behind when armed individuals arrived, forcing us to flee to the crossing.”

Similarly, Fatima recalled, “[During the 44 Special Action Forces era], war suddenly broke out. Armed men stayed in our house, and I had to carry my younger siblings and hide whenever there was gunfire.”

Ana Maria Locsin, Executive Director of Plan International Pilipinas, emphasized the vulnerability of children in conflict situations: “Children are always the innocent victims of armed conflict and humanitarian crises. These situations are also a breeding ground for inequality, reinforcing traditional gender roles and placing the burden of childcare and household responsibilities on women, especially during displacement.”

“We urge everyone to unite for peace and create a world where every child has the right to live free from violence and fear,” Locsin added.

The report, Still We Dream: Girls and young people living through conflict, was officially launched on October 10, 2024, in Upi, Maguindanao Del Norte, ahead of the International Day of the Girl on October 11.

Plan International Pilipinas convened the BARMM Regional Government and peacebuilding partners in the region to respond to the call of girl leaders to address the root causes of conflict and build lasting peace that prioritizes the voices and needs of girls and young people.