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. In a virtual rally organized by the Philippine Legislators’ Committee on Population and Development (PLCPD), with support from Oxfam Philippines, members […]

Blog post by Patricia Miranda, Anam Parvez Butt, Jeanette Kindipan-DulawanMore from Patricia Miranda, Anam Parvez Butt, Jeanette Kindipan-Dulawan Positive prospects amid the pandemic 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. Now the House of […]

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. The Act criminalizes marriage between an adult and a minor (children below 18 years old), and was authored and sponsored by Senator Risa Hontiveros. Aside […]

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 support from Oxfam Pilipinas. The rally was dubbed ‘#GirlDefenders Speak […]

The campaign to criminalize child marriage is gaining ground in the Philippines. So far, this 18th Congress, four bills have been filed in both houses that aim to penalize perpetrators of child marriage, including parents or legal guardians who facilitate this harmful practice. The bills also propose a coordinated set of preventive actions across government […]