Comfort Women House Resolution Passes Unanimously

Human Rights campaigner M. Evelina Galang has reported good news. She explains:

"The Comfort Women House Resolution Petition garnered over 2,200 international signatures. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the House of Representatives, in an unanimous voice vote passed House Res. 121 on Monday, July 30, 2007. Now it is time to petition the Japanese government. Thanks to everyone who signed the petition and supported House Res. 121."

She explained in her petition:

“ Historians and researchers in South Korea and Japan discovered several official war documents in the late 1980’s that established the existence and systematic abuse of WWII Comfort Women. They estimated 200, 000 young women were taken hostage by Japanese soldiers to serve as military sex slaves from all of South East Asia.”

”After fifty years of silence, surviving Comfort Women have broken the culture of shame to document their experiences of systematic rape and sexual slavery by the Japanese Imperial Army. Their demands are simple—they would like a formal apology and reparations for the war crimes they suffered, crimes that continue to affect their aging bodies in physically, mentally and sexually abusive ways. The women make their demands in order to reclaim their dignity, and ensure the safety of their own daughters, granddaughters and now, great granddaughters.”

”The surviving Comfort Women are mostly in their 80’s now. Many are dying. We urge Congress to act swiftly so that some may see justice before they pass away.”

Congratulations Evelina. We hope your fresh campaign and petition to the Japanese government is successful as you seek justice for the surviving Comfort Women.

The eds.