ADVOCATES for children’s rights called on Congress to pass a bill that will prohibit the practice of child marriage.

The call was delivered during an online “zoomlidarity” rally dubbed #GirlDefenders Speak Out to End Child Marriage.

Advocates from the National Capital Region and Bangsamoro as well as government officials and lawmakers attended the event.

“Legislators must recognize the urgency of this issue. Every single day that this law is not passed means girls being forced into marriage and risks of a vicious cycle of violence. We call on the House of Representatives to begin deliberation on this bill and give it a chance to be heard by the plenary,” said Rom Dongeto, executive director of the Philippine Legislators’ Committee on Population and Development.

According to UNICEF, the Philippines was ranked 12th in the world in terms of absolute number of child brides. Data from the 2017 National Demographic and Health Survey reveal that one out of six Filipina girls are married before they turn 18.

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, “marriage and family matters” is the top reason for girls dropping out of school.

“Young girls, and boys alike, shouldn’t be forced to marry at a very young age. The fact that this is happening in our country should push us to do our part in ensuring that children are protected from all forms of abuse — physical, sexual, emotional, and psychological, which are all existent in child marriages,” Dongeto said.

In November 2020, the Senate approved on third and final reading Senate Bill 1373, which criminalizes the facilitation of child marriage. The bill, authored by Senator Risa Hontiveros, defines child marriage as “any marriage entered into where one or both parties are below 18 years of age.”

In the House of Representatives, there are four versions of the bill: House Bill 1486 filed by Deputy Speaker Bernadette Herrera-Dy and Rep. Edcel Lagman, HB 3899 filed by Rep. Alfred Vargas, HB 5670 filed by Rep. Josephine Veronique Lacson-Noel, and HB 7922 filed by Rep. Myra Joy Tambunting. The measures remain pending.

“We believe that there is an urgent need for a national law explicitly prohibiting child marriage and providing programs and services for prevention and response, to ensure that all Filipino children — boys and especially girls — will have the opportunity to grow and develop to their full potential, and the chance to decide when and with whom to marry,” Herrera-Dy said.