« Back to Glossary Index

At the individual level, reparations are defined by Merriam-Webster as “the act of making amends, offering expiation, or giving satisfaction for a wrong or injury.” At a collective level, reparations aim to provide some measure of satisfactory resolution for those who have been harmed by governing institutions and dominant social hierarchies. As such they are inherently victim-centered as their success is measured by those who have been harmed. However, in many cases, especially those of gross human rights violations, reparations may not be able to give full restitution (see table) to those who have been harmed nor even provide reparations that are comparable to the level of harm, especially in cases where the harm is essentially irreparable, such as when someone has been killed. Therefore, reparations are not just about the actual material or symbolic reparation, but also the process that goes into determining the form of reparation, in which victims are heard and their needs centered.

(See “Reparations” under our FAQ section).

« Back to Glossary Index