Farhana Ganoy, a 22-year-old youth advocate from Maguindanao del Sur, is deeply involved in implementing Republic Act 11596, or An Act Prohibiting the Practice of Child Marriage and Imposing Penalties for Violations Thereof. The passage of this Law is a significant milestone for the Philippines in its efforts to end Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) and Child, Early, and Forced Marriages and Unions (CEFM).

“Sa ngayon na meron na tayong batas, isa sa mga engagement o mga ginagawa namin ngayon sa community ay ang patuloy na magbigay awareness [tungkol sa VAWG and CEFM] na maliban na meron na talagang issue ay meron na tayong batas. Kasi isa pa rin sa nakikita natin na medyo kulang pa ay yung awareness ng mga tao,” she explained. (Now that we have a Law, one of our engagements or activities in the community is to continue raising awareness that besides the issues [of VAWG and CEFM], we now have a law. We see that awareness of people [on said law] is still quite lacking.) Farhana and her peers participate in consultations to ensure grassroots perspectives are included in communication plans, giving a voice particularly to those in ‘remote communities.’

Farhan’s journey of challenging child marriage began when she was a student leader in 2019. Even when she was not part of an organization, Oxfam’s Creating Spaces Project engaged Farhana and her peers in conversations and campaigns on how to address the high incidence of child marriage in their school. Their engagement with the campaign on ending child marriage led to the establishment of the Mindanao Alliance of Youth Advocates (MAYA.)

“Ang approachnamin dati ay school campaign lang sya like magbibigay lang kami ngawareness sa mga negative effects ng child marriage katulad sahealth or katawan ng bata pati sa psychological effect nito” she recalled. (“Our approach before was just a school campaign, where we would only provide awareness about the adverse effects of child marriage, such as its impact on the child’s health and body, as well as its psychological effects.”)

To reach more communities, the MAYA expanded its activities. Their approach shifted from school-based to community-based, focusing on remote areas with limited access to information. They initiated ‘katok bahay’ sessions (which means knocking on people’s homes), visiting homes in remote areas to share information and converse with the youth on the issues of child marriage and its impact on young people’s lives.

The limited mobility imposed during the pandemic hindered in-person school campaigns; thus, they opted to host webinars and create an online page for their campaigns.

For Farhana, facing resistance is part of advocacy work. ‘As a Muslim… very controversial lalo na nung naipasa yung batas. Yung issue, talagang mainit pagdating sa Muslim community.

Nung hindi pa sya naiipasa, isa sa challenges na nakita namin dun ay minsan, sinasabihan kami dun na sino kami para magsalita eh bata lang kami, na estudyante palang kami,’ (As a Muslim… it was very controversial, especially when the Law was passed. The Law was heatedly debated. Before the Law was passed, one of the challenges we faced was that sometimes our credibility in discussing CEFM was questioned since we were considered young and merely students at that time). Farhana shared. Challenging misinformation about the PCM Law became a crucial objective for MAYA. Farhana and her group remained steadfast in their campaign for the Law’s passage, advocating for children’s rights, correcting misconceptions, and balancing backlash with the overwhelming support they received from their community and partner organizations such as Oxfam and UnYPhil Women.

Engaging with key stakeholders can be challenging but manageable. Farhana recounted an instance where a barangay official questioned them. ‘During that time, kinukwestyon nya kami. Sinong kasama nyo, kayo-kayo lang ba? So nag explain ako kung ano yung advocacy namin. Sir, nakikita po kasi naming na dumarami angcases ng child marriage sa area natin,’ she recalled. (During that time, he asked us. Who is with you? Is it just you? So, I explained what our advocacy is. Sir, we have noticed that the cases of child marriage in our area are increasing.) Such encounters made them realize the need for more strategic approaches, such as involving religious perspectives to ensure the community understands and accepts the importance of ending child marriage.

Despite the challenges, the impact of their work is evident. Farhana proudly shared, ‘Kahit hindi pa naipasa yung batas, from 10 sa isang taon na nagdro-drop out sa child marriage na na-record mismo sa school. After a year na pagbibigay awareness namin sa classroom, umabot kami na isa lang na narecord na drop out because of child marriage.’ (Even before the Law was passed, from 10 in a year who dropped out due to child marriage recorded by the school, after a year of raising awareness in the classroom, we reached the point where only one dropout due to child marriage was recorded.) Their advocacy has also gained the support of municipal council members, who have become strong advocates themselves. Many young people now express interest in joining MAYA, expanding the reach and impact of this group.

Farhana shared a success story of a young mother who became a volunteer after experiencing an arranged marriage herself. ‘Sabi nya, “nandito na ako sa sitwasyon ko, napasok na ako sa child marriage. Pero siguro, ang maiitulong ko ngayon ay gamitin ang story ko para marinig ng lahat na hindi biro, hindi ganun kadali ang pagpasok sa child marriage.’ Her willingness to share her story has inspired many and strengthened the advocacy against child marriage.

MAYA employs a peer-to-peer approach to mobilize community support, creating ‘safe spaces’ for young persons to share their experiences and concerns. Feedback from the community has been positive, with many parents expressing interest in learning about the Law and involving their children in the advocacy. Farhana mentioned, ‘Thankfulpa din kami na may mga parents pa din na ayaw pa rin nila ipakasal ang mga anak nila kasi iniisip pa din nila na yung future ng mga anak nila.’ (We are still thankful that there are parents who do not want to marry off their children because they are still thinking about their children’s future.) This support from parents is also crucial in sustaining advocacy efforts.

Working closely with local organizations, government agencies, and other stakeholders is critical for advancing their objectives. Farhana acknowledged the support of UnYPhil Women, Oxfam Pilipinas, and PLCPD, which provided the foundation for their advocacy. ‘Kami kasi [bilang] bata, hindi kasi kami pinanganak as advocate. But [through the] Creating Spaces Project… we realize [d] na may magagawa kami,’ she said. (We, as young people, were not born advocates. But the Creating Spaces Project made us realize we can make a difference.)

Farhana envisions expanding their reach to more areas and utilizing media and social platforms to ensure their narratives are heard. ‘Kasi yung social media ngayon, yung technology, sobrang broad na nang naaabot,’ she noted. (‘Because social media and technology now can reach a vast audience.) Their goal is to sustain the advocacy and continue influencing long-term change.

Reflecting on her journey, Farhana expressed gratitude for the opportunity to advocate against child marriage. ‘Isa sa pinaka lesson para sa akin ay as a bata, hindi pala ako bata lang… nakikita ko na unti-unting nabuksan ang boses namin. Na naririnig na din kami ngayon,’ she said. (One of the biggest lessons for me is that as a young person, I am not just a child… I see that our voices are gradually being heard. We are being listened to now.)

Farhana’s journey highlights the incredible impact that young activists can have in their communities. By standing up against child marriage, she and her peers in Mindanao are not only advocating for their rights but also inspiring others to join in their call for the promotion of girl children’s well-being and development. Their efforts demonstrate that with passion and perseverance, young people can challenge deeply rooted traditions and create lasting and transformative change. This movement not only empowers individuals but also fosters a more equitable future for everyone in their communities.

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^{The Maguindanao Alliance of Youth Advocates (MAYA) is a youth-led, non-profit organization dedicated to promoting women’s empowerment and child protection. Established in 2020, MAYA has since grown to include over 50 student members who are passionate about creating positive change in their community.}

^{MAYA’s primary focus is on raising awareness about the negative impacts of child, early, and forced marriages, as well as advocating for the enforcement of laws that protect women’s rights. Through educational campaigns, and community awareness.}