As poverty in the Philippines is rampant, protest movements have emerged throughout the country. The national government, with clear U.S. instigation, hatched the National Internal Security Program (NISP). It did not only exact heavy toll from the civilians caught in armed conflict, but also targeted activist organizations asserting their economic, social, political and cultural rights. Since NISP was implemented in 2004, mostly rural poor human rights defenders have fallen victims of extrajudicial killings sweeping the entire country. All are documented. Thus far, no one has been prosecuted, much less convicted for these crimes.

In 2009, political violence under NISP made its presence known in Northern Mindanao. Undeniably, attacks against human rights defenders and militarization of rural areas inflict much trauma to the citizens. Victims of human rights violations experience mental health concerns directly related to torture, mistreatment, and displacements. Issues relating to mental health not only affect the individual, but families and communities as well. In the rural areas where impunity is at its highest, survivors are experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder and depression.

RMP-NMR’s Healing The Hurt project seeks to (a) create a psychosocial team that will involve grassroots organizations to readily and regularly respond to bourgeoning cases of human rights violation-related mental issues; (b) launch advocacy and networking activities that will lead to creation of support groups for the psychosocial needs of rural poor human rights defenders under attack, their immediate families and communities, especially women and children victims of militarization and displacement; and (c) provide psychosocial services to the target beneficiaries mentioned. The project seeks to regularize the patchy provision of psychosocial services to the affected individuals and areas.