The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is among the five government agencies tasked to provide non-monetary reparation to victims of human rights abuses during the Martial Law regime.

The provision of such assistance is mandated by Republic Act 10368 otherwise known as “Human Rights Victims Reparation and Recognition Act of 2013”. Under this law, the government has the moral obligation to provide reparation to the victims as part of their right to obtain justice.

To operationalize the provision of the non-monetary reparation, the DSWD, Department of Health, Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, and the Human Rights Victims’ Claims Board (HRVCB) signed the memorandum of agreement on September 21 at the Balay Kalinaw in UP DIliman. September 21 is the anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law in the Philippines.

Under the agreement, DSWD shall develop a comprehensive psychosocial services and rehabilitation program for victims/survivors of human rights abuses. These include counseling, livelihood, educational, and financial assistance, among others.

The Department will also initiate and coordinate community-appropriate activities with other government agencies towards community healing and reconciliation that integrates lessons from martial law such as respect for democratic processes.

“It is high time that we recognize the sacrifices of the victims of human rights abuses. They are heroes in their own right,” DSWD Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman said. ###