Potential to Organize

Potential to Organize

SUPPORT SYSTEM AND SAFE SPACES The research affirms the provision of psychosocial services and safe spaces as both urgent and lasting needs for survivors of traumatic experiences, in particular

for this research, surviving families. In addition, the research adds into the current body of literature by acquiring the inputs of the respondents which attest to their potential and willingness to be of mutual support to their fellow citizens who have gone through the various challenges associated with the death of a loved one/s through EJK. Unlike the majority of data on hand which provide more of an overview of political, social and economic landscape of WoD-affected Metro Manila, along with descriptive backgrounds of the usual profiles of victims and their kin, the researchers are yet to find studies that document and affirm the benefits of the current emphasis on continuous psychosocial and communal healing of surviving families. In fact, surviving families, in addition to attesting to the mutual benefits, also consider accessing safe spaces and a supportive community for surviving families as immediate needs.

NETWORK AND CAPACITY-BUILDING The main gap in related literature is due to the fact that mainstream research efforts are yet to utilize a strengths-based approach in dealing with surviving family members of WoD. This is despite the fact that there is much to learn from

in terms of the healing and ongoing empowerment of these families. To help end the reactive stance of the government in dealing with this public health issue, these families and communities must be engaged in terms of research and policy. There is a stark contrast with the lack of trust towards government vis-a-vis the evident trust the participants express towards their respective networks. Social capital for inclusive research and policy work is evident in the networking and capacity-building efforts of these families, which are positive outcomes of their challenging contexts. Consequently, their efforts exhibit both resilience and strategic community engagement as they do their best to utilize their current networks to assist fellow surviving families, especially in the absence of relevant government services that are particularly suited towards their multifaceted needs and challenges.

IDENTIFIED NEED FOR CULTURAL AND INSTITUTIONAL REFORMS There is a gap in related literature in terms of the dissonance between the connection of these individual EJK cases to the systemic role of the State despite

all of the cases being committed under the guise of WoD. Despite the frustration of surviving family members with the government regarding various injustices the