Rights at Risk: Understanding gender and power relations impacting girls and young women Caloocan, Malabon and Navotas Cities and Indigenous Communities in Sarangani

This study investigates the gender and power dynamics shaping the experiences of girls and young women in urban informal settler communities in Caloocan, Malabon, and Navotas (CAMANA) and indigenous communities in Sarangani, Philippines. Despite ongoing national and local efforts, unintended adolescent pregnancy (UAP) and child, early, and forced marriage or unions (CEFMU) persist due to deeply ingrained socio-cultural, economic, and political factors. Disempowering beliefs, governance gaps, and resource constraints continue to limit young women’s autonomy and opportunities.

In CAMANA, urban poverty forces many girls to prioritize caregiving or low-wage work over education, while familial instability leaves them vulnerable to early relationships as a means of emotional and financial security. Gender-biased institutional practices, such as school policies that stigmatize adolescent mothers and unwelcoming healthcare services, further exacerbate their challenges. Meanwhile, in Sarangani, entrenched patriarchal traditions, economic hardships, and the practice of dowry continue to drive CEFMU. In many indigenous communities, marriage is still viewed as a family obligation and economic strategy, with dowry acting as an incentive that pushes girls into early unions. Families facing poverty often see marriage as a way to secure their daughters’ future, especially in remote areas where education and employment opportunities remain limited. However, emerging shifts in awareness and resistance are evident, with some young women and mothers advocating for education and delaying marriage, despite social pressures and economic constraints.

Addressing these issues requires a holistic, gender-responsive approach that prioritizes comprehensive sexuality education, youth-friendly reproductive health services, economic empowerment programs, and stronger legal enforcement against CEFMU. By fostering an environment that empowers young girls and women, communities can work collaboratively to break cycles of vulnerability and advance gender equality.