The Democratic Socialist Women of the Philippines (DSWP), in partnership with Organon Philippines’ Her Promise Program, proudly announces the successful launch of the adolescent girls’ organization Y.G.A.L.A (Youth and Girls Advancing Liberty and Awareness). This event marks a significant milestone in the ongoing “Let’s Talk: Normalizing SRHR (Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights) conversations to empower women and girls” project.
The delegates of the newly established adolescent girls’ organization Y.G.A.L.A. (Young Girls Advancing Liberty and Awareness), together with the members of DSWP (Democratic Socialist Women of the Philippines).
The “Let’s Talk” program has been instrumental in facilitating numerous community-based SRHR conversations and seminars targeted at adolescent girls aged 12 to 18 and adolescent mothers in Quezon and Caloocan cities in Metro Manila, as well as Tanay and San Mateo in Rizal. These efforts have been complemented by a podcast and a YouTube campaign, which have successfully raised awareness and engaged a broader audience on various SRHR-related topics. The project’s primary goal is to normalize SRHR conversations, fostering a deeper understanding of these crucial rights and empowering women and girls to make informed choices.
The Y.G.A.L.A launch, themed “Pagkakaisa at Pagkilos ng Kabataang Kababaihan Tungo sa Kalusugan at Karapatang Pangreproduktibo” (Unity and Action of Young Women towards Health and Reproductive Rights) serves the culmination of the Let’s Talk program. The event opened with a speech by Caroline Lopez, Organon’s External Affairs and Communications Lead for Singapore, Hong Kong, Indonesia, and the Philippines, who highlighted the persistent challenges faced by women in accessing quality reproductive healthcare, emphasizing the need to overcome economic, social, and cultural barriers.
(L-R) Mr. Jose Roi Avena, Assistant Country Representative of UNFPA, Ms. Elizabeth Angsioco, National Chairperson of DSWP, and Ms. Caroline Lopez, Organon’s External Affairs and Communications Lead for Singapore, Hong Kong, Indonesia, and the Philippines at the recent launch of the Adolescent Girls’ Organization.
“In the Philippines, as in many parts of the world, women face significant challenges in accessing quality reproductive healthcare. Economic, social, and cultural barriers often prevent women from seeking the care they need,” stated Ms. Lopez.
Why a girls organization matters
While comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) is supposed to be taught in and out of school as mandated by the Reproductive Health Law, the implementation remains quite weak. Based on the interviews conducted by DSWP among girls in the communities, CSE topics are not adequately discussed and many times, the teachers lack the capacity to effectively handle the topics, or their biases and judgments become evident in teaching CSE.
Thus, adolescents, especially girls, are kept in the dark about their bodies and their rights.
Among the most serious consequences of keeping sex and sexuality taboo (owing to the Philippines’ conservative culture) is another problem of adolescent pregnancy in the country. Consider the following data from the 2022 Philippine National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS):
- 5% of teenage women aged 15 to 19 have been pregnant; 1% had sex before 15 years old;
- The percentage of teenage girls who have ever been pregnant increases with age – 1% at age 15 and 13% at age 19;
- The use of family planning is lowest among girls aged 15 to 19 – 3.4% with .8% using traditional method.
Hence, the organizing of adolescent girls is aimed at recognizing and strengthening their voice when it comes to SRHR issues. By coming together, the girls will have the opportunity to assert their views and perspectives, develop their capacities as feminists and as leaders, and provide them with opportunities to address their needs. It will also give them the opportunity to develop relationships with like-minded organizations.
The path ahead
Y.G.A.L.A unanimously decided to become a DSWP chapter organization. From 2024 to 2027, the organization aims to accomplish several key action plans:
- Strengthen and expand the organization through leadership, financial, and organizational management programs, and community outreach training programs.
- Create and execute significant educational seminars and training sessions about the organization’s advocacies and how these can be further developed and promoted.
- Pursue networking and partnership opportunities with like-minded organizations and individuals to advance programs that uplift the rights of youth and women.
The launch of Y.G.A.L.A is indeed a step forward in the mission to empower adolescent girls and normalize SRHR conversations across the Philippines. The DSWP and Organon Philippines remain committed to this advocacy, striving to create a society where women and girls can freely exercise their reproductive health rights.
“The Y.G.A.L.A, being our newest chapter organization can pursue programs and projects that they need at their level, while also supporting the national level advocacies of DSWP. And rest assured that we will be committed to these girls, and will continue to look for opportunities to expand this organization, ” Elizabeth Angsioco, National Chairperson of DSWP said.
ADVT.
This article is brought to you by Organon Philippines.