On 15th August, WWII came to an end some 64 years ago. However, for the so called “Comfort Women” who suffered under the military sexual slavery system sanctioned by the Japanese government, the nightmare of war continues.

Join us, as we hear from survivor GIL Won Ok about her journey from being a victim of war crimes to a campaigner of women’s human rights, lobbying MPs for an official apology from Japan.

Also Speaking:

Ms YOUN Mee Hyang, Director, The Korean Council for the Women Drafted for Military Sexual Slavery by Japan

In Canberra

DATE: Wednesday 12 August 2009
TIME: From 6pm for 6.15pm start.
VENUE: HC Coombs Building Extension, Lecture theatre 1.04.
MAP: http://regnet.anu.edu.au/program/_map/index.php
RSVP: Please email fcwaustralia@gmail.com with “Canberra Event” in subject line
CONTACT: Anna Song, Friends of “Comfort Women” in Australia at 0412 339 222 & SHIN Joon-Shik, Korean Resource Centre at 0409 887 388

This event is co-organised by Friends of “Comfort Women” in Australia and Korean Resource Centre

In Sydney

DATE: Friday 14 August 2009
TIME: 12noon for 12.15pm start
VENUE: Building 2, Lecture Room 411, UTS (Enter from Broadway, next to Tower Building)
MAP: http://www.uts.edu.au/about/mapsdirections/bway.html
RSVP: Please email fcwaustralia@gmail.com with “Sydney Event” in subject line
CONTACT: Anna Song, Friends of “Comfort Women” in Australia at 0412 339 222

This event is co-organised by Friends of “Comfort Women” in Australia and Cosmopolitan Civil Societies Research Centre and the Indian Ocean and South Asia Research Network at UTS.

Refreshments will be served.

Download event flyer here.

This Petition of the Friends of “Comfort Women” in Australia draws to the attention of the House:

The so called “Comfort Women” were systematically and forcibly put into military sexual slavery during WWII by the Japanese Army. The survivors deserve justice and time to restore their dignity is running out.

This is a women’s human rights violation recognised by UN reports, Amnesty International, and the US Congress as well as the Canadian, Dutch, EU and Taiwanese Parliaments and the Korean National Assembly.

We therefore ask the House to deliver justice to “Comfort Women” by voting on a motion in urging the Japanese government to, formally and unequivocally apologise to the victims, take legal responsibility and take historical responsibility by correct teaching of history.

The petition has to be submitted in hard copy. So please download the petition, get 20 signatures, and post it back to us by Monday 3 August 2009 at: FCWA, PO Box 54, Strathfield, NSW 2135

Join Amnesty International Australia’s campaign for “Comfort Women” by creating a butterfly online before 15th August – the anniversary of end of WWII.

The survivors’ chosen symbol is the butterfly – a unique and beautiful creature that has the power to fly above their suffering. That’s why we’re asking you to create your own butterfly, to be sent to the Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and shared around the world on your social networks. With an outpouring of support at this crucial time, we can get the Australian Government to pass a motion urging the Japanese authorities to recognise and compensate survivors.

It’s a simple and striking way to take a stand, and finally shine a light of justice and hope on dark acts hidden in silence and shame for generations.

Send your butterfly to Kevin Rudd, and we’ll amplify your message here at home and abroad – ensuring the survivors we’re in contact with know of your personal messages of hope and solidarity:

http://www.amnesty.org.au/comfort

Butterfly symbol on top of the cupcake

  Amnesty International Australria(AIA) has organised public event on ” Comfort Women” as part of its International stop Violence Against Women compaign. AIA’s ” Remember and Respect” campaign is in close collaboration with FCWA and has already brought about active grassroots support across Australia.

  The Crimes Against Comfort women forum, held on 25 May, was a part of this campaign and started work on a butterfly petition. This petition will be sent to the Prime Minister around 15 August to urge the Australian Government to join in passing a motion. 

Anna Song, Hee Sun Um and Hideko Nakamura enjoying a break with a cup of coffee and discussion.

A forum on Reconciliation, War Responsibility and Dialogue for Peace was held by Japanese for Peace on 23 May in the Melbourne City Conference Centre, Chapel Hall.  Participants in this forum had a chance to speak with all life activist’s professors, as well as survivors invited as speakers.  Also at this forum, Anna Song (FCWA) spoke about Jan Ruff O’Herne, who is a survivor of the “Comfort Women” system, with a report on the work of the FCWA to command the Japanese government to formally apologize, compensate the victims and take legal responsibility.

FCWA Co-Founders with Strathfield and Ryde Councillors after passage of "CW" motions

During Global Action Week on “Comfort Women” marking International Women’s Day City Council of Ryde (NSW) passed a motion led by Justin Li (pictured) on 10 March 2009. This is following an earlier one passed by Strathfield Council led by Hope Brett-Bowen (pictured) on 3 March.

IT WAS mentioned only in passing amid the extensive reporting of the conflict in Georgia: rape had, apparently, once again been used as a weapon of war. This is not surprising.

Rape has been used as a weapon of war for thousands of years. It is still used this way, despite the fact that it has been declared a war crime and a crime against humanity by the United Nations. Thousands of women were raped during the conflict in the Balkans in the 1990s; thousands, perhaps hundreds of thousands, were raped in the civil war in the Congo; and thousands have been raped in Darfur in the decades-long campaign of genocide by the Sudanese Government and their Janjaweed militia.

Rape as a weapon of war has been extensively employed by soldiers across vastly different cultures. The consequences for the women subjected to this form of violence are lifelong: in many instances, they are cast out – or subjected to further violence – by their families and their communities.

Read the rest of the story in The Age

Sign 8.15 Online Petition Action

Support “Comfort Women” motion in Australian House of Representatives in 2008!

13th-16th August 2008

August 15th marks the 63rd anniversary of the end of WWII. It’s also a day of Global Action for “Comfort Women” with solidarity activities in Korea, Japan, Phillipines, Taiwan, Indonesia, Netherlands, Germany, USA and Australia.

Friends of “Comfort Women” in Australia (FCWA) and Korean Council together with supporting organizations invite you to the events below aimed to raise awareness and build support for the Australian parliament to pass a motion urging the Japanese government’s official apology to the survivors.

Speakers are:

* Australian survivor Jan Ruff O’Herne
* Korean survivor Gil Won Ok
* Korean activist Yoon Mee Hyang
* Korean activist/academic Prof Cho Shi Hyun
* Japanese activist/academic Prof Michiko Nakahara

In Melbourne

TITLE: ‘Comfort Women’, Memory and Justice – Free Public Lecture
DATE: Wednesday 13 August
TIME: 5.30 – 7.30 pm
LOCATION: Menzies Building, Lecture Theatre H1, Monash University, Clayton
ENQUIRIES: Email Beatrice.Trefalt@arts.monash.edu.au, mrom3@student.monash.edu.au or call 03 9905 5118

TITLE:Lunchtime Public Forum on “Comfort Women” by Amnesty International Australia
DATE: Thursday 14 August
TIME: 1-2pm
LOCATION: Legislative Assembly Chamber of Victorian Parliament
ENQUIRIES: Email vicaia@amnesty.org.au

Justice for “Comfort Women” – From a Japanese Perspective & “Comfort Women” and UN Human Rights Bodies 1992-2008
DATE:Thursday 14 August
TIME:6pm for refreshments & 6.30pm for lecture
LOCATION:Lecture Theatre 102, Melbourne Law School, 185 Pelham Street, Carlton
ENQUIRIES:Email fcw_australia@hotmail.com or call 0412 339 222

15th August Global Action for “Comfort Women” – Public Rally
DATE: Friday 15 August 2008
TIME:12 noon start
LOCATION:City Square, Melbourne (Cnr Swanston St and Collins Sts – Opposite Melbourne Town Hall)
ENQUIRIES: Email fcw_australia@hotmail.com or call 0412 339 222

In Sydney

Public Forum and Fundraiser Dinner for Women and Human Rights Museum
DATE: Saturday 16 August 2008
TIME: 6pm for 6.30pm start
LOCATION: Korean Society Hall, 82 Brighton Avenue, Croydon Park
COST: $20 (students and aged pensions and other social security recipients )
$30 and over for income earners
ENQUIRIES: Email fcw_australia@hotmail.com or call 0412 339 222