Protecting Children in the Philippines: A System- focused Overview of Policy and Practice

This chapter explains the policies and practices of child protection in the Philippines. While the country is experiencing rapid economic, social, and political transformations, there is increasing international awareness of the need for children to be protected from neglect and abuse, particularly in circumstances of significant poverty, inequality, and deprivation. Filipino children experience a strong sense of familial belonging and community connectedness, with a high degree of social and cultural significance placed on the family. However, maltreatment and exploitation are the core risks to the Filipino youth, which are followed by other risks such as child labour, child trafficking, extra-judicial killings, and natural disasters.