On International Children’s Day, the Mindanao Climate Justice Resource Facility (MCJ) reaffirms its unwavering commitment to children, especially those from marginalized and Indigenous communities, who continue to bear the heaviest burdens of the climate crisis.
The climate emergency is not a distant threat—it is a crisis unfolding now. Children, particularly those least responsible for its causes, are already experiencing its devastating impacts. Extreme weather events, rising temperatures, and environmental destruction jeopardize their immediate needs—food, water, education, and safety. In Mindanao, Indigenous Lumad and Bangsamoro children face even greater risks as their ancestral lands are destroyed, cultural heritage threatened, and basic rights violated.
The Impact on Mindanao’s Children
According to UNICEF’s 2023 Annual Report for the Philippines, the challenges for children in Mindanao are staggering:
•Education: BARMM has the country’s highest rate of out-of-school children, with 14.4% of children aged 5-15 not attending school.
•Health: Stunting affects 45.2% of children under five in BARMM—far above the national average of 28.8%.
•Child Protection: 12.5% of children aged 5-17 in BARMM are engaged in child labor, exceeding the national average of 11.2%.
•Poverty: BARMM has the highest poverty rate in the Philippines, with 37.2% of families living below the poverty line.
Additionally, nearly 9 out of 10 Lumad youth have no access to education, further compounding their vulnerability in the face of climate change and systemic neglect.
Lumad Education: A Beacon of Hope and Resistance
Despite these challenges, Lumad schools are vital to addressing the climate crisis and securing justice now. These schools offer Indigenous children culturally grounded education that integrates environmental stewardship, sustainable practices, and self-determination. By teaching the ecological and economic value of their ancestral lands, Lumad schools equip students to protect their communities from exploitation by mining, logging, and agribusiness industries accelerating the climate crisis.
Lumad schools do more than educate—they empower. They challenge the systemic injustices driving environmental degradation and social inequities while preparing the next generation of leaders to advocate for sustainable futures. However, the Philippine government has shut down 200 Lumad schools, depriving 10,000 children of education and their communities of crucial advocates for climate and social justice.
Act Now: A Call for Urgent Action
On this International Children’s Day, we call on governments, institutions, and civil society to act immediately. Education is not just a fundamental right—it is an essential tool for confronting the climate crisis and addressing its impacts today.
We must:
1. Protect education now: Support Lumad schools and ensure access to education for all children, especially in marginalized and climate-vulnerable communities.
2. Invest in justice now: Address systemic inequities in education, health, and livelihoods to empower communities to adapt to and resist climate impacts.
3. Act on climate now: Center Indigenous and children’s voices in climate solutions, ensuring their rights and needs are prioritized.
The time to act is not tomorrow, but today. The climate crisis is already here, and so is the fight for justice. Children deserve not only a future but a present where they can live in dignity, security, and hope.
