Newsletter

The Korean Council for the Women Drafted for Military Sexual Slavery by Japan ("The Korean Council" hereafter) was founded on November 16, 1990. For the past 19 years, it has worked to restore the dignity and human rights of the victims through the proper resolution of the issue of Japanese military "comfort women." It has sought to build a united front for the women and the disadvantaged suffering from ongoing war and violence around the world. It has steadfastly carried out activities for the promotion of peace and the protection of human rights in order to prevent the recurrence of a tragedy such as that of Japan military "comfort women."

The 19 years of The Korean Council's activities have come to comprise a movement for the restoration of human rights to the victims of Japanese military sexual slavery, a movement for solidarity and hope to the victims of wartime sexual violence, a human rights movement carried out jointly with the victims of human rights abuses to international human rights activists, and a peace movement for the generation that has not experienced war. The Korean Council has moved beyond Korea to become a leader of an international movement with many supporters around the world.

The Korean Council played a major role in laying down a foundation for a welfare system for the former "comfort women," getting the Korean government to pass a legislation that will provide assistance to the survivors of Japanese military sexual slavery who have lived through many long years of physical and mental anguish. The Korean Council has also built local ties and support systems for the survivors living alone in all corners of Korea. In 2003, the Korean Council opened "Urijib" (Our House) in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul. It is open to all victims of advanced age living alone. It is a shelter that serves as both a short-term and long-term residence and that offers medical care. Urijib runs diverse emotional healing and Alzheimer's prevention programs, including art, gardening, and health classes.

The greatest achievement: Turning victims into confident testifiers of history

In addition to victim support activities, the Korean Council has led a wide range of domestic and international activities to build a public consensus and apply pressure for the resolution of the Japanese military "comfort women" issue. The Wednesday protest in front of the Japanese Embassy in Korea began on January 8, 1992. The weekly protest for the resolution of the "comfort women" issue has developed into a venue for building solidarity between the public and the victims in the name of human rights and peace. It is attended by private citizens from around the world.

The Korean Council has been active in sending petitions to international organizations and national governments. It has thus been able to cast Japanese military sexual slavery as an issue of wartime sexual violence against women. As a result, international organizations and national governments have continued to adopt and issue related resolutions and recommendations. The Korean Council has built an international network for the promotion of peace in Asia and the eradication of violence against women by working with not only victim nations in Asia but also civil society and human rights groups around the world.

The Korean Council established the War and Women's Human Rights Center. The Center collaborates with experts in various fields and activists to listen to the victims' testimonials and undertake research. It also carries out documentation, archival, and publication activities. With the resources thus developed, it runs educational programs and awareness campaigns targeting students and the public. In 2004, the Korean Council founded the Committee for "War and Women's Human Rights Museum" and is pursuing the construction of the museum, which will serve as a center for peace and human rights education for future generations.

One of the most invaluable achievements of the 19 years of activities carried out by the Korean Council is that victimized women, who had once hung their head in shame, have regained their dignity. They now openly and confidently offer their testimonials about a tragic history. They have taken the lead in resolving the lingering issue of Japanese military sexual slavery. They have are now international peace activists. They have come to view the military sexual slavery issue as something more than personal. They travel the world, telling people that the world should become free of war if there is to be no more victims like them. The issue of Japanese military sexual slavery pertains not only to the former "comfort women." It also pertains to all women victimized by wartime sexual violence. It is, therefore, an issue of the present as well as of the future.