From Despair to Defiance
The Impact of Extra-Judicial Killings, Enforced Disappearance, and Other Human Rights Violations on Families

Synopsis

Since 2001, more than a thousand victims of extra-judicial killings (EJKs), hundreds enforced disappearances (EDs) and thousands other human rights violations have been documented in the country. The change in presidency in 2010—despite Pres. Aquino’s promise of closure—did not improve the human rights situation much less served justice to the victims of human rights violations of the Arroyo administration. But apart from the obvious violence with the loss of lives and violated rights and freedoms, the current condition of continuing violations and deeply-entrenched impunity has immediate and long-term implications for the families of victims, survivors, and their communities. From Despair to Defiance explores and exposes this face of human rights violations in the Philippines. A compilation of personal stories, psychological and societal impacts, and lessons derived from psychosocial interventions provided to the families of victims and survivors of EJKs, EDs among other human rights violations, this book narrates the brazen violence that children, families, and communities experienced, their ways of coping with the sudden loss of loved ones, and the transformation of grief to their resolve to attain justice.

From Despair to Defiance is published by the Center for Trade Union and Human Rights in partnership with the Pro-Labor Legal Assistance Center with support from the European Union.

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