Restorative Justice:
Legal Framework and Practices in the Philippines (2007)

Having been at the forefront of the advocacy to repeal Republic Act 7659
(The Death Penalty Law), PhilRights was sensitized to the weaknesses of the Philippine criminal justice system.

This exposure to the flawed justice system has intensified the institution’s resolve to work for the realization of a better system of justice: one that is firmly anchored on human rights standards and informed by restorative principles of justice.

This book, “ Restorative Justice: Legal Framework and Practices in the Philippines” is an initial effort by PhilRights, together with the Ateneo Human Rights Center (AHRC), People’s Initiative for Learning and Community Development (PILCD) and the Institute of Bangsamoro Studies (IBS), to explore the rudimentary bases of restorative justice in the age-old practices of Filipino indigenous peoples as well as in the existing laws (albeit few) of the land. The idea is to cull from the wisdom of indigenous modes of conflict and dispute-management and from the few existing formal laws rich lessons that could help reorient the country’s judicial and punishment regimes.

Copies are available at selected book distributors’ outlets and at PhilRights office.