Criteria for a National Reparations Program

The political violence suffered by Peru between 1980 and 2000 left thousands of victims. It is the duty of the State to implement comprehensive reparations for victims of human rights violations and violations of international humanitarian law. It is the duty of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to elaborate reparation proposals. It is the responsibility of society as a whole (NGOs, churches, victims and their families, government officials, members of congress, media and other sectors) to be informed and to debate the best way to repair the immeasurable harm caused to individuals and communities during 20 years of violence and repression. The viability of a national reparations program in the medium and long term will depend not only on the support of those already familiar with the issue, but on a much broader sector whose understanding and backing must be cultivated. Before launching a national reparations program we must ask certain basic questions such as: What are the objectives of a national reparations program? What are the limits of a national reparations program? What is the scope of a national reparations program? What reparation measures exist? And what strategies can be employed to achieve a national reparations program? (Excerpt from the preface).