CHR calls for full reparation and justice for Malaya Lolas

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has issued a Gender Ombud Policy Advisory calling for full reparation, recognition, redress, and an official apology for the Malaya Lolas, Filipina survivors of wartime sexual slavery during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines in the Second World War.

As the country’s National Human Rights Institution (NHRI) and Gender and Development Ombud under the Magna Carta of Women, the CHR monitors the Philippines’ compliance with international human rights obligations, including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).

In March 2023, the UN CEDAW Committee issued its views in Alonzo et al. v. Philippines, finding that the Philippines failed to adequately address the continuing discrimination and suffering endured by the Malaya Lolas, survivors of the Japanese military’s institutionalized system of sexual slavery during the Second World War.

The CEDAW Committee called on the Philippine government to ensure full reparation for the survivors, including recognition, compensation, rehabilitation, and measures to restore their dignity and reputation.

It also recommended the establishment of a nationwide reparations program for victims of war crimes, the preservation of historical memory sites such as Bahay na Pula in Pampanga, and the integration of the history of Filipina survivors of wartime sexual slavery into educational curricula.

Through its advisory, the CHR reiterates the urgency of implementing these recommendations, especially given the advanced age of the remaining Malaya Lolas.

The Commission emphasizes that reparations are not merely a form of humanitarian assistance, but a human rights obligation grounded in international law and the Philippines’ commitments under CEDAW.

The advisory also notes recent government initiatives in response to the CEDAW decision, including the creation of an inter-agency technical working group and the issuance of Joint Memorandum Circular No. 2025-1, which reinforces humanitarian assistance for members of the Malaya Lolas.

While these steps are welcome, the CHR stresses the need for a comprehensive, rights-based reparations framework that meaningfully recognizes the harms endured by the survivors.

In line with the CEDAW Committee’s views, the Commission calls for urgent action from government institutions. These include the enactment of legislation establishing a state-sanctioned nationwide reparations scheme, the provision of sustained medical and psychosocial support for survivors, the preservation and memorialization of sites linked to their experiences, and the integration of their stories into the national education system to promote remembrance and prevent the recurrence of such violations.

The CHR reiterates its readiness to assist the government and relevant stakeholders in crafting policies and mechanisms that will fully implement the CEDAW Committee’s recommendations and ensure that the Malaya Lolas receive the justice, recognition, and dignity they deserve.

The Gender Ombud Policy Advisory on the Call for Full Reparation for the Malaya Lolas, CHR (VI) No. A2026-003, may be accessed here: bit.ly/CHRAdvisoryMalayaLolas