METRO MANILA — Protecting girls from violence and abuse requires coordinated action across homes, schools, communities, and digital spaces. This was a central message at Girls Summit 2026, where Plan International Pilipinas and the Quezon City Government brought together young people and stakeholders to advance solutions for safer, more inclusive environments.
Held in observance of the International Day of the Girl, the summit carried the theme “Stand with Girls: Building the Future Girls Want.” It placed girls’ experiences and recommendations at the forefront of discussions on online exploitation, school safety, mental health, climate-related challenges, and equal opportunities.
A key focus was the Girls’ Agenda, a set of recommendations developed by girls and young people. It calls for stronger protection against violence, better access to health and support services, greater community resilience to climate-related risks, and expanded opportunities for education and economic empowerment.
“Girls are not merely beneficiaries of development. They are leaders, innovators, advocates, and changemakers,” said Cathy Seco, Program Director at Plan International Pilipinas. “They already know what kind of future they want and deserve. Our role is to listen, support, and act alongside them.”
Five panel discussions explored how these priorities can be addressed in practice. Sessions covered mental health challenges in schools, local government approaches to combating Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) and Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Materials (CSAEM), climate-related impacts on sexual and reproductive health and rights, child, early, and forced marriages, and the development of safe and inclusive school infrastructure.
Research presented in the discussions underscored the urgency of stronger protection. A 2020 Plan International study found that seven in 10 girls and young women in the Philippines had experienced online harassment. Meanwhile, the US National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) received more than 1.7 million CyberTipline reports from the Philippines in 2024. The reports concern suspected exploitation material, not individual children, and illustrate the scale of cases that protection systems may need to address.
The summit also examined the effects of climate-related events on girls’ wellbeing. Plan International’s global study Change Her Forecast, which surveyed more than 5,000 girls and young women across five countries, found that 76% reported difficulties accessing at least one sexual or reproductive health service in their communities following climate-related events. Thirty-six percent observed more girls marrying or entering a union before age 18, while 33% reported more unintended pregnancies.
These challenges highlight the importance of keeping education accessible and uninterrupted during crises. Safe, clean, healthy, and enabling schools can provide girls with learning opportunities, support networks, and information about their rights and available services.
Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte emphasized the role local governments can play in advancing child protection.
“A city is only as strong as the safety it gives its girls at home, in school, and online. Quezon City has taken steps to protect children from abuse and exploitation, and we are ready to share what works so other local governments can do the same,” Belmonte said in her welcome remarks.
The summit’s afternoon sessions gave young people the opportunity to present their experiences and recommendations directly to government officials and other stakeholders. Through interactive workshops, participants developed community-based solutions and concrete steps toward safer schools, neighborhoods, and online spaces.
Bea Marie A. Vicente, 22, an elected Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) member of Barangay Tanza 1 in Navotas City and a youth advocate of Plan International Pilipinas, called for protection systems that girls can trust.
“Girls should feel safe at school, at home, and online. I want our leaders to make safety a real commitment, with systems that work, so that girls know where to go and who will help. When girls are safe, we can reach our full potential, but only if we have the same opportunities as everyone else to learn, lead, and earn a decent living,” Vicente said.
The private sector also highlighted ways to expand girls’ opportunities. Alisandrea A. Coloma, Senior Manager for Sustainability & Corporate PR at Watsons Philippines, discussed the Pharmacy Assistant’s Apprenticeship Program, which has supported young girls since 2023 by offering free education through partner schools such as Punlaan and a direct pathway to employment in Watsons stores.
The summit concluded with a call for government, civil society, schools, businesses, communities, and families to work together to turn the Girls’ Agenda into concrete policies and sustained action.
As Plan International Pilipinas celebrates 65 years of service in the country, it continues to call on all sectors to #StandWithGirls and help build communities where girls can live free from violence and pursue their full potential.