Violence against young people widespread among Filipinos
New study reveals 80 percent of respondents experience some form of abuse

Children line up for a weekend activity run by a non-government group in an urban poor community in Manila. A new study revealed that many Filipino children suffer from abuse at home and in their communities. (Photo by Angie de Silva/ucanews.com)
April 12, 2018
A five-year Philippine government study conducted in partnership with the United Nations Children's Fund has revealed that 80 percent of Filipinos aged between 13 and 24 years old "experienced some form of violence."
The violence reportedly takes place at home, in schools, the workplace, their respective communities or while dating.
The study further revealed that 66.3 percent experienced forms of physical violence during childhood and more than half, or 60 percent, of these cases happened at home.
The result of the study, released on April 7 by the Council for the Welfare of Children, noted that more than half of the respondents claimed to have experienced some form of corporal punishment at home including spanking, hair pulling, punching and twisting of ears.
At least 30 percent of the respondents suffered more severe forms of abuse, including slapping, kicking, smothering, attempted drowning and even burning.
The "National Baseline Study on Violence Against Children" revealed that males experienced physical violence at home (66.6 percent) more than females (62.5 percent).
The study showed that mothers were mostly the perpetrators of physical violence, although fathers were deemed responsible for most severe physical violence.
About 14.3 percent of those at school experienced physical violence on campus, including pinching, being hit with an eraser or chalk, twisting of ears, as well as spanking by a teacher or an adult.
Of the young people in the workforce, 7.1 percent reported violence in the workplace while two percent of those in relationships reported having dealt with physical violence while dating.
"Violence against children cuts across economic status," said Ruth Limson-Marayag, planning officer of the Council for the Welfare of Children.
She said most respondents came from middle-class families.
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