The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has pressed for the full reparation, recognition, redress, and official apology for the country’s “Malaya Lolas” (Free Grandmothers) who survived the sexual slavery perpetrated by Japanese soldiers during World War II.

In its Gender Ombud Policy Advisory, the CHR pointed out that justice for the “Malaya Lolas” remains an urgent human rights obligation.

In May 2023, President Marcos ordered concerned government agencies to extend aid and assistance to the case of the “Malaya Lolas.”

The President issued the order following the report of the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) which stated that the Philippines had failed to assist the “comfort women” in filing claims against Japan.

In a statement, the CHR said: "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 CEDAW."

The CEDAW Committee has already called on the Philippine government to ensure full reparation for the survivors, who currently number at less than 20. It clarified that reparation should include recognition, compensation, rehabilitation, and measures to restore their dignity and reputation.

Also, the CEDAW Committee 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."

It stressed: "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 CHR said that while the government has taken initiative by creating 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,” there is still a need for comprehensive, rights-based reparations framework that meaningfully recognizes the harms endured by the survivors.

It assured 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.