Victim Support
The Korean Council believes that a just resolution of the issue of Japanese Military Sexual Slavery requires the sincere restoration of victims’ human rights both domestically and internationally. To enhance the lives of survivors, we provide various support and welfare programs, including:
The Wednesday
Demonstration
The Korean Council has held Wednesday Demonstrations demanding the settlement of the Japanese Military Sexual Slavery issue since January 8, 1992. The Wednesday Demonstrations have become a platform for remembrance, solidarity, and education, regardless of participants’ gender, age, and nationality. Along with the survivors of military sexual slavery by Japan, the Korean Council continues to hold demonstrations in solidarity with civic groups, women, students, citizens, and other various individuals and organizations.
Through the Wednesday Demonstration, the Korean Council Demands to the Government of Japan:
How to Participate
※ If you want to participate in free-speech or other means to voice your opinion, please contact the Korean Council in advance via email at info@womenandwar.net.
Butterfly Fund:
Prevention of Sexual
Violence in Conflict
The Korean Council is actively involved in international solidarity efforts to support women and children affected by sexual violence in conflict zones. Established on International Women’s Day, March 8, 2012, the Butterfly Fund was founded by the Korean Council along with the survivors of Japanese military sexual slavery, Kim Bok-Dong and Gil Won-Ok. Their mission is to provide support to women experiencing sexual violence in conflict areas, utilizing reparations from the Japanese government. Despite Japan’s continued denial of responsibility, citizens steadfastly support the Butterfly Fund, promoting solidarity for these critical issues.
The Path of Butterfly Fund
1. The Democratic Republic of Congo
Since 1996, the Democratic Republic of Congo has been plagued by recurrent civil wars involving government forces and various armed rebels. The initial Butterfly Fund supported APDUD, an organization founded by Rebecca Masika Katsuva, a survivor of wartime sexual violence. This support continued until Masika’s passing in 2016. Subsequently, the Fund has extended its aid to victims of sexual violence through REMED and APDUD’s collaboration with Ushirika, a self-sustaining organization for victims of sexual violence in conflict zones.
2. Vietnam
During the U.S.-Vietnam War (September 1964 to March 1973), numerous Vietnamese women suffered civilian killings and sexual assaults perpetrated by the Korean army. Just as the Japanese government should acknowledge and make reparations for its military sexual slavery, Korea should also take responsibility for its crimes in Vietnam. The Buttery Fund’s secondary mission is to support victims of Korean military sexual violence, their children, and their communities in Vietnam.
3. Uganda
From 1986 to 2006, northern Uganda endured a 20-year civil war between the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) and government forces, resulting in widespread suffering. The LRA abducted an estimated 30,000 individuals, forcibly conscripting children into their ranks and subjecting girls to sexual slavery. The Butterfly Fund has aided support victims in Uganda through three organizations:
4. Palestine
Since 1967, Israel’s armed occupation of the Palestinian West Bank and Gaza has led to over 70 years of violence, including gender-based violence against Palestinian women. The Butterfly Fund provides psychological, social, and legal support to Palestinian women through the NGO ‘ADI’ and the ‘Palestinian Women’s Trauma Healing Center.'
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The Statue
of Peace
The Statue of Peace
The Statue of Peace, often referred to as ‘Sonyeosang’ in Korea, stands as a symbol of the victims of Japanese military sexual slavery and embodies hope for the cessation of sexual violence in armed conflicts. Erected through the voluntary efforts of advocates for human rights and peace, this statue serves as an open educational venue both domestically and internationally.
While the physical form of the Statue of Peace may vary depending on region and construction contexts, its core message remains consistent: to commemorate the issue of Japanese military sexual slavery, honor the victims, and advocate for human rights and peace.
The original Statue of Peace, located in front of the former Japanese Embassy, portrays a young girl sitting silently on a chair, facing the embassy.
The Small Sonyeosang Movement
The Small Sonyeosang Movement was initiated by the student circle “Jumeockdoki” at Ehwa Girls’ High School to commemorate the lives of Japanese military sexual slavery victims and to collectively advocate for justice on their behalf. In July 2018, 239 schools, symbolizing the 239 victims of Japanese military sexual slavery registered with the Korean government, completed the installation of Small Sonyeosang statues on their premises.
Domestic
Solidarity
The issue of Japanese Military Sexual Slavery intersects with gender, history, ethnicity, and class. We establish networks and foster solidarity with diverse agendas and NGOs in Korea to combat all forms of violence, discrimination, and prejudice against minorities.
International
Solidarity
Since the inception of the movement, the Korean Council has recognized the imperative of raising awareness about the issue of Japanese Military Sexual Slavery on the global stage.
Asian Solidarity Conference
Established in 1992, the Asian Solidarity Conference convenes victims, victim support NGOs, and women from both victim and perpetrator countries to address the issue of Japanese Military Sexual Slavery. Its objectives include investigating the truth from the Japanese government, seeking reparations, and exploring avenues to engage with UN Human Rights Commission through civil action. The collective efforts of Asian women involved in resolving the issue of Japanese sex slavery have significantly impacted international human rights and women’s movements.
Reports, resolutions, and recommendations by UN, ILO, and international human rights organizations
In August 1992, Lee Hyo-Jae, Shin Hye-Soo, Jeong Jin-Sung of the Korean Council and victim survivor Hwang Guem-Joo attended the Human Rights Subcommittee in Geneva, marking the first international discussion of Japanese Military Sexual Slavery. Since the movement’s inception, the Korean Council has stressed the importance of highlighting this issue to global bodies like the United States and the ILO. Through persistent advocacy by women, special rapporteur reports have officially recognized Japanese Military Sexual Slavery as a war crime, establishing international standards that call for reparations.
Resolutions passed in the U.S. House of Representatives (HR121), European Parliament, Canada, the Netherlands, Korea, Taiwan, and Japanese regional assemblies
The issue of Japanese Military Sexual Slavery has been brought to global attention through the efforts of survivors, victim advocates, and both domestic and international NGOs. Despite these efforts, the Japanese government has not issued an apology, acknowledged responsibility, or provided reparations. Victim survivors and NGOs have criticized the Japanese government’s lukewarm response, promoting ongoing efforts to secure resolutions from the international community. The adoption of resolutions by countries worldwide in response to these efforts has reignited global momentum toward resolving the issue of Japanese Military Sexual Slavery.
2000 Women’s International War Crimes Tribunal
The Women’s International War Crimes Tribunal on Japan’s Military Sexual Slavery, referred to as the 2000 Court, convened in Tokyo from December 7 to 12, 2000. It was established during the 5th Asian Solidarity Conference in 1998 with the aim of prosecuting war criminals who had escaped national accountability. This tribunal was a legal initiative dedicated to examining the issue of Japanese Military Sexual Slavery and advocating for the international condemnation of wartime violence against women.
Commemoration
& Education
Supporting the establishment of the Statue of Peace
By fostering solidarity and cooperation in erecting the Statue of Peace globally, we convey messages of human rights and peace, with a special emphasis on the history of Japanese military sexual slavery and efforts to achieve justice for its victims. Serving as a cultural icon in remembrance of the victims of Japanese military sexual slavery, the Statue of Peace resonates with people worldwide.
International Memorial Day for Japanese Military “Comfort Women”
In December 2012, activists and victims from eight Asian countries attending the 11th Asian Solidarity Conference on resolving Japanese military sexual slavery declared August 14 as a memorial day to commemorate and honor the victims, in memoriam of Kim Hak-Soon, who was the first to testify publicly about the atrocities. Since 2013, this day has been observed annually, with the Korean government designating it a national memorial day in December 2017 to restore the victim’s honor.
War and Women's Human Rights Archives
War and Women's Human Rights Museum
Kim Bok-dong Peace Prize
This Prize honors individuals or organizations that have been engaged in the movement to resolve the issue of sexual violence in conflict and ensure women's human rights in conflict across the world. It was established on November 25, 2017(International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women) with the contribution of fifty million won that Kim Bok-dong received as the winner of the "Women's Human Rights Award with one million citizens."
Gil Won-ok Women's Peace Prize
It was established as a fund to discover and support domestic female activists for those actively working for peace, unification, and women's human rights. This Peace Prize started on May 17, 2017, when Gil Won-ok donated one million won, which she won in the "1st Ewha Christian Women's Peace Award."
