Child Soldiers in the Philippines – The Borgen Project

Report on Child Soldier Violations in the Philippines and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

This report outlines the status of child soldier recruitment and other grave violations against children in the Philippines, analyzing the data in the context of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Despite international ratification of protocols to protect children, ongoing conflicts present significant challenges to achieving key SDG targets, particularly SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth).

Violations as a Barrier to SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

The recruitment and use of child soldiers is a direct contravention of SDG Target 16.2, which calls for an end to abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against children. In 2024, grave violations in the Philippines continued to undermine this goal.

• Killing and Maiming: Accounted for 43% of total violations, directly opposing the right to life and security.
• Recruitment and Use: Comprised 38% of violations, a severe breach of SDG Target 8.7, which seeks to eliminate the worst forms of child labor, including the use of child soldiers.
• Attacks on Schools: Represented 12% of violations, severely impeding progress on SDG 4 (Quality Education) by denying children safe access to learning environments.
• Other Violations: The remaining 7% included sexual misconduct, abductions, and denial of humanitarian access, further violating fundamental human rights and hindering progress on SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being).

A disproportionate number of these violations (53%) occurred in Mindanao, highlighting a critical geographic area where targeted interventions are necessary to restore peace and advance the SDG agenda.

Accountability of State and Non-State Actors

The persistence of these violations is attributed to various armed groups, whose actions challenge the establishment of strong and just institutions as envisioned by SDG 16.

Key Perpetrators of Violations

1. New People’s Army (NPA): Consistently responsible for the highest number of violations, accounting for 41% of the total in 2024.
2. Dawlah Islamiyah-Maute Group: Demonstrated a significant increase in violations, rising from two in 2021 to nine in 2023.
3. Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) & Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF): Remained significant contributors to the total number of violations.
4. Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP): While a state actor, the AFP was implicated in violations. However, it also showed the most significant reduction, dropping from 21 incidents in 2021 to 12 in 2023, indicating progress in institutional accountability.

Strategic Interventions and Progress Towards SDG Attainment

In response to these challenges, the Philippine government, in partnership with the United Nations, has implemented measures aimed at strengthening protections for children, directly contributing to the achievement of SDG 16 and related goals.

• Strategic Action Plan: A 2021 plan signed by the AFP and the U.N. provides a framework for preventing and addressing violations.
• Capacity Building: Over 3,100 child protection actors have been trained across the country, building the institutional capacity required by SDG 16 to safeguard children’s rights.
• Enhanced Reporting Mechanisms: The establishment of regional reporting systems empowers communities to hold perpetrators accountable, reinforcing justice and institutional strength.
• National Policy Implementation: The 2019 issuance of a child protection policy by the Philippine National Police formalizes the state’s commitment to ending violations.

These initiatives demonstrate a tangible commitment to fulfilling SDG targets. The resulting decrease in overall violations indicates that concerted efforts to build strong institutions and protect vulnerable populations can yield positive outcomes, moving the nation closer to its sustainable development objectives.

Analysis of SDGs in the Article

Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

   • The article’s central theme is the violation of children’s rights in armed conflict, specifically the use of child soldiers, killing, and maiming. This directly relates to the goal of promoting peaceful and inclusive societies, providing access to justice, and building effective, accountable institutions. The efforts of the Philippine government and the U.N. to reduce violations and establish protection systems are key aspects of building strong institutions.

2. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

   • The recruitment and use of child soldiers is one of the worst forms of child labor. The article’s focus on ending the recruitment of children by armed groups connects directly to the goal of eradicating forced labor and ending child labor in all its forms.

3. SDG 4: Quality Education

   • The article explicitly mentions “attacks on schools” as a common violation, accounting for 12% of the total in 2024. Such attacks disrupt education and deny children a safe learning environment, which is a core component of ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education.

What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

   • Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere. The article discusses the “killing and maiming” of children, which constituted 43% of violations in 2024, and the overall effort to reduce the “total number of violations.”
   • Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children. The primary issue discussed is the “recruitment and use of child soldiers,” a clear form of child exploitation and violence. The article also notes violations of “sexual misconduct” and “abductions.”
   • Target 16.a: Strengthen relevant national institutions, including through international cooperation, to build capacity… to prevent violence. The article highlights the collaboration between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the U.N., who “signed a strategic plan in order to improve conditions.” It also mentions the “2019 issuance of the child protection policy by the Philippine police” as an institutional measure.

2. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

   • Target 8.7: Take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labour, end modern slavery and human trafficking and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labour, including recruitment and use of child soldiers. The article is centered on the problem of “child soldiers in the Philippines” and the efforts to reduce “recruitment,” which was responsible for 38% of violations in 2024.

3. SDG 4: Quality Education

   • Target 4.a: Build and upgrade education facilities that are child, disability and gender sensitive and provide safe, non-violent, inclusive and effective learning environments for all. The article’s mention of “attacks on schools” directly contravenes this target by highlighting the destruction of safe learning environments.

Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. For SDG 16 Targets:

   • Number/percentage of violations: The article provides specific data points, such as the Philippine government having “nearly halved its total number of violations” and the breakdown of violations in 2024: “43% in killing and maiming, 38% in recruitment and 12% in attacks on schools.” These figures can be used as direct indicators of progress in reducing violence (Target 16.1) and child exploitation (Target 16.2).
   • Number of trained personnel: The article states, “There are now more than 3,100 trained child protection actors throughout the country.” This serves as a concrete indicator for measuring the strengthening of institutional capacity (Target 16.a).
   • Establishment of policies and systems: The mention of the “2019 issuance of the child protection policy” and the establishment of a “regional reporting system” are qualitative indicators of institutional strengthening (Target 16.a).

2. For SDG 8 Target:

   • Number/percentage of child recruitment violations: The article specifies that “recruitment” accounted for “38% of total violations in 2024.” Tracking this number over time is a direct indicator for measuring progress towards eliminating the use of child soldiers (Target 8.7).

3. For SDG 4 Target:

   • Number/percentage of attacks on schools: The article notes that “attacks on schools” made up “12% of total violations in 2024.” This figure is a direct indicator for measuring the safety of learning environments (Target 4.a).

Source: borgenproject.org