“Our Happy Family Is Gone”: Impact of the “War on Drugs” on children in the Philippines

Since the “war on drugs” was launched in the Philippines in June 2016, thousands of people have been killed. There have been dozens of children under the age of 18 among those who have died. Non-governmental organizations in the country have estimated that 101 children was killed between 2016 and 2018, and more deaths have been reported in 2019 and 2020. In addition to this, children who have lost their parents suffer from psychological distress and economic hardship due to the loss of a breadwinner.

Built on fieldwork and interviews, this report outlines the implications of the “war on drugs” on childrens rights and well-being in the Phillipines.