Reparations: The United Nations ‘Basic Principles and Guidelines on the Right to a Remedy and Reparation
for Victims of Gross Violations of International Human Rights Law and Serious Violations of
International Humanitarian Law’ provides detailed guidance on what redress should be made
available to victims of human rights abuse. This includes:
• Restitution refers to measures which “restore the victim to the original situation before the gross
violations of international human rights law and serious violations of international humanitarian
law occurred,” for example, restoration of liberty, enjoyment of human rights, identity, family life
and citizenship, return to one’s place of residence, restoration of employment and return of
property.
• Compensation “should be provided for any economically assessable damage, as appropriate
and proportional to the gravity of the violation and the circumstances of each case, resulting from
gross violations of international human rights law and serious violations of international
humanitarian law,” such as lost opportunities, loss of earnings and moral damage.
• Rehabilitation “should include medical and psychological care as well as legal and social
services.”
• Satisfaction is a broad category of measures, ranging from those aiming at a cessation of
violations, to truth-seeking, the search for the disappeared, the recovery and reburial of remains,
public apologies, judicial and administrative sanctions, commemoration and memorialization, and
human rights training.