Today, 8 million Filipinos rely on unimproved, unsafe, and unsustainable watersources and 27 million lack access to improved sanitation.
60,000 to 100,000 children in the Philippines are involved in prostitution rings, while an undetermined number of children are forced into exploitative labor operations.
Boys who do not attend school are typically engaged in child labor: in 2014, there were 2.15 million working children between the ages of 5 and 17.
In 2017, the Philippines made global news when Islamic State-linked militants attacked the city of Marawi in Mindanao. Hostages are still being held, including at least one Catholic priest.
An estimated 11 women die every day from complications of childbirth, most of which are preventable with basic education, nutrition, access to clean water, and skilled birth attendants.
The Philippines is a “source country” for human traffickers worldwide: It also serves as a transit country for traffickers transporting slaves, and even as a destination for some traffickers.
Government and law enforcement officials have been implicated in sex trafficking schemes: either by participating in/purchasing slaves, or turning a blind eye to the practice. According to UNICEF, “Some corrupt officials, particularly those working in immigration, allegedly accept bribes to facilitate illegal departures for overseas workers, reduce trafficking charges, or overlook unscrupulous labor recruiters.”
Poverty and regional instability are the two greatest risk factors for children: Children from impoverished families are lured into the sex trade or exploitative labor by traffickers promising to help their families survive. Local taxi drivers are often in cahoots with traffickers and will take children to secret locations to meet with clients.
Close family members (including parents) sometimes facilitate sex slavery out of desperation for basic resources: According to UNICEF, “Very young Filipino children are coerced to perform sex acts for live internet broadcast to paying foreigners; this typically occurs in private residences or small internet cafés and is facilitated increasingly by victims’ close family relatives.”
Half of Filipino children who die before their fifth birthday are newborns.
Deaths among children below 5 remain highest in the poorest sectors of society, in rural areas, and among families with low educational status.
An estimated 11 women die every day from complications of childbirth, most of which are preventable with basic education, nutrition, access to clean water, and skilled birth attendants. Their children do not fare well because of a lack of understanding about the value and mechanics of breastfeeding, proper nutrition for babies, sanitation, and lack of available basic vaccinations.
As stated above, many children do not have access to clean water, which causes a plethora of health and development problems.
