Adolescence

COUNTRY: The PhilippinesStrengthening the participation rights of adolescentsYouth reporters recorda segment for KabataanNews Network,Philippines.“ In 2009, thecountry washome to almost20 millionadolescentsbetween theages of 10and 19.”The Philippines lies in the Pacific Ring of Fire, aregion of high volcanic and seismic activity, makingit one of the most risk-prone countries in the world.Recurrent natural disasters, together with periodicbouts of conflict and social unrest, are among thechallenges the country faces in advancing the rightsand development of adolescents. Yet the Philippineshas made considerable progress towards meetingmost of the Millennium Development Goals – inpoverty reduction, child mortality, gender equality,combating HIV and AIDS, and access to safe drinkingwater and sanitary facilities. The net primary schoolenrolment ratio for girls was 93 per cent in 2008,exceeding that of boys, for whom it was 91 per cent.The Philippines ranked sixth in the world in providingequal opportunities for women according to theWorld Economic Forum’s Gender Gap Index in 2007.Over the past decades, the country has made thetransition from a mainly rural to a predominantly urbansociety. Around half of the population live in urbanareas, with the metropolitan area of Manila, the capital,accommodating the largest share of rural-to-urbanmigrants. In 2009, the country was home to almost20 million adolescents between the ages of 10 and 19.Real growth in the gross domestic product averaged5.8 per cent in 2003–2007, helping to improve thelives of many. Inflows of remittances from Filipinosworking overseas have been an important driver of theeconomy. It is estimated that around 10 per cent of thepopulation live abroad, making the Philippines the thirdlargest migrant-sending country, after China and India.There are still significant challenges to sustaining andamplifying the advances that have been made. Growingdisparities and inequalities are apparent acrossand within the country’s provinces. According to thecountry’s 2009 report under the aegis of UNICEF’songoing Global Study on Child Poverty and Disparities,poverty increased from 24.4 per cent in 2003 to 26.9per cent in 2009. Two out of three poor people live inrural areas. The other third live in the country’s megacities,where they face overcrowding, inadequatesanitation and limited access to basic health services.The Government of the Philippines has taken stepsto realize the fundamental rights of children and adolescentsand has incorporated the Convention on theRights of the Child into national laws. For instance, theSpecial Protection of Children Against Child Abuse,Exploitation and Discrimination Act of 1991 recognizesthe ‘best interests’ principle with explicit referenceto the Convention. The Juvenile Justice and WelfareAct of 2006 reaffirms this principle and calls for theparticipation of children in programme and policy formationand implementation relating to the Act. Thereis no comprehensive national youth strategy.The Government has developed a number of policiesthat support young people’s civic engagement, includingan article in the Constitution of 1987 and theYouth in Nation Building Act of 1995, along with institutionalmechanisms to implement these policies.Youth civic engagement programmes, integrated intoschool curricula, address a wide variety of issues.These programmes are often run by youth-led organizations.For example, the Sangguniang Kabataan(National Youth Council) provides various incentivesand support mechanisms for decentralized youthparticipation. The representatives, aged 15–21, areelected by other young people at the local level.Other adolescent participation initiatives are alsounder way. The Kabataan News Network (KNN), forinstance, is a network of young people from aroundthe country, with different ethnic and religiousbackgrounds, who engage in the media. These youngpeople have produced their own nationwide TVprogramme, KNN – a first for the Philippines. In addition,the Philippines hosted the first ASEAN meetingof adolescents in October 2010, a landmark in youngpeople’s participation in South-East Asia.Progress towards realizing the rights and developmentof adolescents is encouraging, but more concertedefforts will be critical to increasing their meaningfuland positive participation. The country still confrontsmany challenges – particularly in addressing disparitiesand inequalities among the regions, and ensuringprogressive legislation, such as the Juvenile Justiceand Welfare Act, is fully implemented. Maintainingpolitical stability and security throughout the country,including protecting young people from involvement inarmed conflict, will be crucial to further improving thelives of adolescents in the years ahead.See References, page 7848THE STATE OF THE WORLD’S CHILDREN 2011