Moving beyond administrative uniformity
Victims are not a homogenous group. Their needs vary substantially based on gender, age, rural versus urban residence, disability, and the specific nature of the violation experienced.
A one-size-fits-all reparations regime risks creating new inequities. Delivering meaningful redress requires nuanced consultation that respects the diverse lived realities of survivors.
“Reparation becomes just only when it listens to the diverse voices of those it was established to serve.”
Gender-sensitive approaches to redress
Sexual violence and gender-based persecution were weaponised under the former regime. Cultural stigma, fear of reprisal, and economic dependency often deter female survivors from coming forward.
A gender-responsive reparations mechanism integrates female caseworkers, confidential filing protocols, specialized trauma specialists, and collective community restitution to avoid stigmatization.