Deadly Playgrounds: The Phenomenon of Child Soldiers in the Philippines

1. Deadly Playgrounds:The Phenomenon of Child Soldiers in the Philippines Philippine Human Rights Information Center (PHILRIGHTS)

2. Profile of a Filipino Child Soldier • Male & assigned military/combat functions. Female & usually assigned auxiliary/support functions • Poor & big agricultural family • Age of involvement in armed group between 13-17 years • Several years of elementary education • Usually operating in Mindanao

3. Profile of a Filipino Child Soldier • Main reasons for joining armed group: • poverty & government neglect • membership & affiliation of other family members • victim of abuse & injustice • belief in the political ideology • secessionist advocacy & support for Holy War

4. Profile of a Filipino Child Soldier • No compensation for services rendered usually among non-state armed groups except for a small allowance; not the case for child soldiers affiliated with the AFP & paramilitary units like the CAFGU

5. Background Objectives of the Study • Describe the socio-demographic background of child soldiers; • Present their situation and experiences as members of armed groups (state & non-state); • Identify the factors that influence children to participate in armed conflict;

6. Background • Present the strengths and weaknesses of government policies and programs that address the problem of CIAC; and • Formulate recommendations to enhance CIAC policies and programs

7. Limitations of the Study • Purposive sampling used due to the inherent invisibility of the study population; difficulty in ascertaining the sample size for the study • Weak external validity due to the small sample size • Security problems faced by the interviewers may have resulted to inaccuracies in the recording of the responses

8. Limitations of the Study • Relatively big percentage of “no response” in some of the questions due to the prevailing environment in the conduct of the interviews, i.e. mobile, limited time, security risks in conflict areas, lack of attention on the part of the study respondents

9. Limitations of the Study • Child soldiers interviewed were predominantly from non-state armed groups which does not mean that the number of CS in state-backed armed groups is negligible.

10. Study Methodology

11. Study Sites

12. Study Respondents 1. Location of Respondents

13. Study Respondents2. Status in the Armed Group

14. HIGHLIGHTS OF THESTUDY RESULTS

15. Socio- Demographic Profile of Child Soldiers

16. Sex

17. Age of Entry in Armed Group

18. Highest Educational Attainment

19. Armed Group Affiliation Affiliation

20. Functions as Child Soldiers

21. Parent’s Occupation

22. Average Monthly Family Income

23. Life as Child Soldiers

24. Reasons for joining the armed group A child soldier is one whose main reasons for joining the armed group is a combination of the following factors: • poverty and government neglect • membership and affiliation of other familymembers in the armed group • victim of abuse and injustice • belief in the political ideology • secessionist advocacy and support for Holy War

25. Compensation for services

26. Gender Stereotyping • There is gender stereotyping in armed groups as reflected in the types of tasks assigned to and performed by child soldiers. • The children also experience discrimination among the adult members of the armed groups as a consequence of their age, rank, position and physical capabilities. For instance, very seldom are they allowed to participate in planning and decision-making sessions of the armed group.

27. Right to Play • Majority of CS are still able to play and do some recreation activities but this is limited & dictated by the existing realities inside the camp. • Priority is given to the performance of tasks & functions • Lack of space for play & recreation • Heightened alert mode & security consideration

28. Right to Play • Concerned with survival, CS do not feel that play is an integral component of childhood life and is important in their growth and development as humans.

29. Right to Education • A large percentage of the respondents are able to continue their education through the in-camp education and training provided by the armed group. • In-camp education provided by non-state armed groups is focused on the understanding & analysis of the history of armed conflict, its root causes, the political program of the armed group and the strategies for achieving said program.

30. Disarmament, Demobilization, Rehabilitation & Reintegration Program

31. DDRR Program • The government has instituted policies and programs to address the needs of child soldiers in recent years. • While these efforts signal the government’s recognition to address the issue, the research has identified gaps and limitations in the implementation of these policies and programs.

32. DDRR Program • The study identified the following gaps/weaknesses in the implementation of the DDRR program: • Fragmented & compartmentalized focus • Social welfare/dole-out approach vs. the rights-based approach (RBA) • Key stakeholders, i.e. CS & their families, as passive recipients of services • Non-compliance with IRR of RA7610 • Weak information dissemination to stakeholders

33. HIGHLIGHTS OF THE DISCUSSION & ANALYSIS

34. Factors that Influence Children’s Involvement in Armed Groups • Poverty • Poor government presence through the delivery of basic social services like education, health, nutrition, livelihood programs, etc. • Belief in the ideologies of an armed group • Secessionist advocacy and support for holy war • Affiliation of family members in armed groups

35. Factors that Influence Children’s Involvement in Armed Groups • Pursuit of alternative justice to avenge for atrocities, abuses and injustices experienced in the hands of the AFP, government officials, and powerful individuals & families • These conditions serve as fertile grounds for the recruitment by non-state armed opposition groups of their members and supporters, including children.

36. Nature of Children’s Involvement in Armed Groups • Absence of force or coercion in children’s involvement in armed groups. • The study respondents consistently stated the “voluntary” nature of their membership and participation in armed groups.

37. Nature of Children’s Involvement in Armed Groups • In an environment where the abovementioned factors persist and where there is armed conflict, children’s decision to join armed groups becomes a survival response and a viable option made available to them.

38. Situation and Experiences of Child Soldiers • Children’s involvement in armed groups exposes and makes them vulnerable to tremendous risks which have serious consequences on their growth and development as human beings. • While depicting the resilient character of children in difficult circumstances, children’s involvement in war also present the heavy and premature burden they shoulder in the name of survival.

39. Impact of Soldiering on Children • Physical separation from the family • Heightened consciousness for their security • Familiarity with firearms • Disruption of formal education • Exposure to harmful elements and conditions which increases their vulnerability to disease, injury and death • Physical and psychological stress • Lack of future prospects

40. Implications of CIAC • Children’s involvement in armed groups indicates that their human rights as outlined in the major domains of the Convention on the Rights of a Child (CRC), which include development, protection, survival and participation, are violated.

41. Implications of CIAC • CIAC means that the State has failed to provide for the requirements necessary for children to grow as complete persons, including education, rest and recreation, food and clothing, and the need to be protected from all forms of exploitation, abuse, violence and neglect.

42. Conclusion • The phenomenon of child soldiering can be addressed if an enabling environment for children is created. • Root causes of armed conflict must be solved • Children’s development, protection, survival & participation must be fulfilled by the State

43. Study Recommendations National & Local Government • Immediate delivery of basic services to areas/communities highly affected by armed conflicts. (e.g. maximizing KALAHI-CIDSS) • Development and implementation of sustainable income generating opportunities that would increase their purchasing capability of families and communities

44. Study Recommendations • Implement educational programmes not limited to formal education but inclusive of non-formal education, skills development and vocational trainings relevant to the needs and sensitive to the culture of the target beneficiaries • Prioritize basic services such as health, employment, housing, food security, education and infrastructures, in the allocation of the national budget.

45. Study Recommendations • Conduct information dissemination and training of concerned government agencies (DSWD field offices, LGUs, PNP and Barangay officials) on the laws and procedures relevant to the handling and treatment of child soldiers

46. Study Recommendations • Raise the capability of LGUs and government agencies in the application of the rights-based approach (RBA) in the development & implementation of programs and services for children. • Include the issue of child soldiers in the agenda of the peace processes between the GRP and various armed opposition groups

47. Study Recommendations • Develop an effective mechanism that would monitor and evaluate the proper implementation of legal instruments and procedures on child soldiers. Processes of monitoring and evaluation should incorporate effective and efficient reporting of rescued, surrendered and/or captured CS, and the documentation of the processes of each case.

48. Study Recommendations • Review and enhance the contents and approaches of the DDRR program of the DSWD. The review process should involve all the stakeholders affected by the child soldiers’ issue, i.e., former child soldiers, NGOs, family, community, etc., to ensure appropriateness of the program to target beneficiaries.

49. Study Recommendations • DDRR Program should be able to integrate the following principles and characteristics: • Adopt Child-Centered Approach • Ensure participation and contribution of demobilized and reintegrated CS in the process of the DDRR program

50. Study Recommendations • Formulate methods and strategies that would address the whole range of children’s developmental needs. (integrate various skills, information and resources to develop and broaden children’s abilities and competencies) • Respond to the specific needs of CS and take into account the context of the demobilized CS ( e.g experiences in specific AGs, culture, age) in order to come up with proper intervention that will hasten their recovery and reintegration.