Majority of the country’s solo parents are women who need urgent rights-based interventions to ensure their protection and access to essential services, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) said.

The CHR cited the 2015 and 2021 reports which showed that 79 percent of solo parent-headed households are led by women.

Its Center for Gender Equality and Women’s Human Rights (CGEWHR) published its report that highlighted the gendered challenges faced by solo parents in the country.

In a statement, the CHR said the Philippines has Republic Act No. 11861, the Expanded Solo Parents Welfare Act, which provides a comprehensive framework of support for solo parents.

However, the CHR lamented that the implementation of RA 11861 continues to face significant gaps that hinder the full realization of solo parents’ rights.

"Despite the law’s gender-neutral language, women remain disproportionately affected due to entrenched societal expectations surrounding motherhood and sexuality," it said.

It added that solo mothers frequently face stigma, workplace discrimination, and limited access to essential services such as healthcare, housing, and education which are issues often compounded by poverty, scarce employment opportunities, and unclear benefit guidelines.

At the same time, the dilemma is compounded due to varying capacities of local government units, lack of standardization in issuing Solo Parent IDs, untrained personnel, and low public awareness, the CHR said.

"While solo parent organizations help fill in the gaps, many lack formal recognition and adequate resources," it also said.

To address these issues, the CHR has urged national agencies to develop clearer policies, strengthen local implementation, and adopt an intersectional approach that addresses the diverse needs of solo parents, including elderly, adolescent, indigenous, and LGBTQIA individuals.

It also highlighted the need for sustained information and education campaigns to combat stigma, promote gender equality, and raise awareness of solo parents' rights.