Plan International PHL, PLCPD launch newest alliance and campaign on safe spaces for girls

In celebration of the National Women’s Month, girls’ rights advocates Plan International Philippines and Philippine Legislators’ Committee on Population and Development (PLCPD) launched today, March 23, the #SafeEverywhere campaign, the newest collaboration on advocating for improved policies protecting women and girls in all spaces.

In the latest episode of Usapang Human Development, PLCPD’s online policy talk show series, the two organizations unveiled the campaign as an initiative under the newly forged alliance dubbed “GxG” between Girls Get Equal, Plan’s youth-led movement demanding freedom, power, and recognition for girls, and #GirlDefenders Alliance, a group of legislators and multi-sectoral representatives organized by PLCPD to promote policy reforms on girls’ rights and protection.

Despite landmark legislations toward ending violence against women and girls, many challenges around women and girls’ safety and protection, especially those brought about by the pandemic, prevail.

The Philippines remains a global hotspot for online sexual abuse and exploitation of children. Sexual harassment and the stigma and victim-blaming attached to it continues to be rampant and has encroached the digital space. Child marriage is prevalent in the Philippines, with the country ranking 12th worldwide in absolute number of child marriages, increasing the negative health and development impacts especially on girls.

By engaging policymakers, civil society leaders, women, girls, youth, and children, the #SafeEverywhere campaign seeks to stop online sexual exploitation of children (OSEC), sexual harassment, and child marriage— all shrinking safe spaces for women and girls— through policy reform.

“Batayang karapatan ng isang tao, lalo na ng isang batang babae na makamit ang kanyang pangarap na makapag aral, magkaroon ng career at magkaroon ng fighting chance na lumaya sa kahirapan. Walang sinuman, kahit ang kanyang magulang, kaanak o pamahalaan ang maaaring kumitil sa karapatang ito ng mga batang babae (Education, choosing career paths, having a fighting chance to be free from poverty, are all basic human rights. No one – not even a girl’s parents, family, government – can infringe upon these rights.). The #SafeEverywhere campaign expands the advocacy platform to consolidate support for policy reforms that will help end OSEC and child marriage,” emphasized Rom Dongeto, Executive Director of PLCPD.

Urging the public to support the #SafeEverywhere campaign, girl advocates from the Girls Get Equal campaign and the Girl Defenders Alliance also joined the online talk show and shared about the impact of OSEC and child marriage to girls and young women.

“Ngayong panahon ng pandemya, mas bulnerable ang mga kabataang babae tulad ko sa mga pang-aabuso at karahasan gaya ng OSEC (In this time of pandemic, young women like me are more vulnerable to many forms of abuse and violence like OSEC.),” shared KC, an 18-year-old Girls Get Equal advocate. “Bilang isang advocate, lalo rin tayong sinusubok at nililimita ng sitwasyon, pero sa kabila nito ay patuloy tayong lalaban sa OSEC (The present situation also poses greater challenges and limits to being an advocate, but we will continue the fight against OSEC.)”

“We are very happy and excited to be part of the #SafeEverywhere campaign. As #GirlDefenders, we believe that we can be safe when we are aware of our rights and when we know what we can do to advocate. Sa communities namin, nagbigay kami ng effort to raise awareness on negative effects of child marriage at ngayon masaya kami na mas marami pang advocates ang pwede gumawa nito (In our communities, we did awareness-raising on the negative effects of child marriage and now, we are happy that there are more advocates who can do the same.),” according to Farhana Tala Ganoy, #GirlDefender from Maguindanao Alliance of Youth Advocates against CEFM.

Recognizing the GxG collaboration as an important milestone and platform for girls’ participation, Plan highlighted in the online campaign launch how crucial amplifying the voices of girls and young women is in crafting and pushing for laws and policies that directly affect them.

“Mula pa noon, naniniwala ang Plan International sa kahalagahan ng malalim na pakikisama ng mga kabataan, at masaya kaming makita na magtulungan ang Girls Get Equal advocates at ang #GirlDefenders Alliance para mas mapalawak ang espasyo para sa mga bata’t kabataang babae habang sila’y nabibigyan ng kaukulang proteksyon (Plan International has long believed in the importance of youth participation, and we are happy to see Girls Get Equal advocates and the Girl Defenders Alliance working together to expand spaces for girls and young women while they are being afforded equal protection.),” said Selena Fortich, Plan International Philippines’ Country Program Manager for Child Protection.

Through the GxG partnership, Plan and PLCPD will work together in the #SafeEverywhere campaign to advocate for policies that will help resolve the rising cases of OSEC in the Philippines, prohibit child marriage at the regional and national levels, and localize the implementation of Republic Act No. 11313 or the Safe Spaces Act.