The last letter from a “Comfort Woman” to the Japanese Emperor
My name is Won-ok Gil, a so-called “Comfort Woman." “I am now 92-years old. My wish before I die, is for the truth be revealed and to receive your sincere…
We dedicated our memorial to all the “Comfort Women” and their unwavering resolve for justice. We pledge to continue our struggle against all forms of sexual violence, and for an end to the sexism, racism, colonialism, militarization, and wars that fuel it. We envision a world free from fear of sexual violence, where all women and girls can live a life with respect and dignity.
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“Comfort Women” is the Japanese Imperial government’s euphemism for the women and children they trafficked as sex slaves between 1932 and 1945, until the end of World War II. Most of the victims were Korean and Chinese, although many others were from the Philippines, Indonesia, the Netherlands, Burma, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Australia, East Timor, Hong Kong, and Macau. While some were recruited by false advertisements promising work as house maids, factory workers and nurses, the majority were abducted and violently coerced into sexual slavery for Japanese soldiers at government sponsored “comfort stations” intended to improve army morale, as a strategy of war.
It is estimated that some 400,000 women and children were forced to be sex slaves for Japanese soldiers and officers at these government-sponsored rape camps. The “Comfort Women” were often kept in sub-human conditions and suffered from starvation, physical and psychological abuse, disease, infections, and rampant STDs. Many committed suicide. Monuments for the “Comfort Women” are being built around the world to memorialize these women and their communities and to educate new generations of the dangers of warfare and our global responsibility to protect human rights.
CWJC Newsletter! What’s Been Happening!
JAPAN KEEPS ON TRYING BUT SAN FRANCISCO STANDS WITH THE “COMFORT WOMEN” MEMORIAL Over the past several months, Japan’s Consul General Uyama has been doing overtime lobbying SF Supervisors to…
“Voices of the ‘Comfort Women’” campaign—UNESCO Memory of the World Register
Background of the “Voices of the ‘Comfort Women’” campaign in the UNESCO Memory of the World Register It has been extremely difficult and political to get “Comfort Women" documents accepted…
San Francisco City College Trustees unanimously votes to honor the “Comfort Women” victims and survivors as it celebrated International Women’s Month.
This March 21, 2019 proclamation is the third one honoring the courage of “Comfort women” victims by a city agency in San Francisco Bay Area on the occasion of “International…
CWJC Attends California Council for the Social Studies Conference
CWJC members at the 58th annual California Council for the Social Studies March 15-17,2019 in San Jose. About 600 mainly high school teachers and educators throughout Calif. attended this prestigious…
World Premiere “Comfort Women” Concert in NYC will Explore Long-Taboo Subject Through the Language of Jazz
Chinese-American composer/musician Stephanie Chou’s new work focuses on the “comfort women” forced into sexual slavery by Japanese troops during World War II ------ February 20, 2019 (New York, NY)— On…