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Campaign aims to introduce U.N.-recognized day in memory of wartime sex slaves
Activists have launched a campaign to introduce a United Nations-proclaimed day to remember wartime sex slaves, known as comfort women, and end sexual assaults against women in wartime.
They are targeting the date of Aug. 14, when Kim Hak Sun, a victim of sex slavery under the Japanese military, came forward in Seoul in 1991 under her own name to demand that Japan take responsibility for its actions.
“We hope the hardships the comfort women went through will be a memory for the whole world, although attempts to gloss over Japan’s wartime atrocities still continue,” said Mina Watanabe, co-representative of Japan Action for Resolution of the “Comfort Women” Issue.
Kim’s action has prompted other former comfort women to step forward, while serving as an encouragement to victims of wartime sexual violence around the world, Watanabe said in a recent interview. “We expect the introduction of the U.N. memorial day will bring an end to ongoing sexual violence in the world’s conflict areas and restore the honor of the victims.”
They are targeting the date of Aug. 14, when Kim Hak Sun, a victim of sex slavery under the Japanese military, came forward in Seoul in 1991 under her own name to demand that Japan take responsibility for its actions.
“We hope the hardships the comfort women went through will be a memory for the whole world, although attempts to gloss over Japan’s wartime atrocities still continue,” said Mina Watanabe, co-representative of Japan Action for Resolution of the “Comfort Women” Issue.
Kim’s action has prompted other former comfort women to step forward, while serving as an encouragement to victims of wartime sexual violence around the world, Watanabe said in a recent interview. “We expect the introduction of the U.N. memorial day will bring an end to ongoing sexual violence in the world’s conflict areas and restore the honor of the victims.”
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/08/11/national/campaign-to-introduce-u-n-day-to-end-wartime-sexual-assault-under-way/#.UgjbBsu9KK0