child marriage

Changing the untold narrative of child brides

1 in 7 Filipino girls are married before reaching 18 years old, the age of consent set by Philippine laws Imagine a 10-year-old girl marrying a man who is 20 years older than her. Because of this, the girl was never able to go to school. Two years later, the girl gives birth to her first child. By...

Farhana Ganoy, a MAYA youth leader, teaches young people in her community about the impacts of child, early, and forced marriage in Guindulungan, Maguindanao. (Photo: Princess Taroza/Oxfam)

Oxfam welcomes HOR’s 2nd reading approval of bill banning child marriage in PH

International humanitarian and development organization Oxfam on Tuesday lauded the House of Representatives for approving on 2nd reading House Bill 9943, which seeks to end child marriage in the country.

Girl Defenders (Photo: Linding Ko Kalombayan/AMDF)

‘Girl defenders’ call for urgent passage of house bill ending child marriage in the Philippines

In celebration of Women’s Month, women’s and children’s rights activists, dubbed ‘girl defenders’ across the Philippines called on the House of Representatives to immediately pass the bill prohibiting and declaring child marriage as illegal.

“The strength of my resolve to champion the rights of young women and girls is far greater than any fear of challenging long-held cultural practices or beliefs. If we will not stand up for our human rights, who else will?”, said campaigner Sittie Mohamad of Al-Mujadilah Development Foundation, a women’s rights organization based in Lanao del Sur campaigning to end child marriage in the Philippines. (Photo was taken in March 2020, before the Covid-19 lockdown) Photo Credit: Vina Salazar/Oxfam

Girls Not Brides – weaving the ‘evidence quilt’ for gender transformative law reform

Girls have been given much reason to hope in the Philippines. This November, a historic first, the Senate unanimously approved the Girls Not Brides bill, which proposes to criminalize child marriage .

‘Girl Defenders’ laud Senate declaration of child marriage as a public crime

In a historic and unanimous vote among Senators, Senate Bill 1373, also known as the ‘Girls Not Brides Act’ has passed the third and final reading on Monday, November 9.

Hundreds of 'Girl Defenders’ join online rally, call for laws to end child marriage in PH

In time for the International Day of the Girl Child and a few weeks before the close of the second regular session of 18th Congress, more than 200 ‘Girl Defenders' joined an online grand solidarity rally organized by Philippine Legislators' Committee on Population and Development (PLCPD) , with...