On Saturday, June 22nd, at 11:00 a.m. local time, the Statue of Peace was successfully installed in Stintino, Sardinia, Italy, with an unveiling ceremony. After a long and suspenseful last-minute of preparation, the Statue of Peace will convey the significance of peace and remind awareness of wartime sexual violence to the citizens worldwide. This is the second Statue of Peace installed in a public space in Europe, following Berlin, Germany, and the 14th installed overseas.
(Rosamaria Caiazza, Na-yong Lee, and Rita Limbania Vallebelle)
Before the unveiling ceremony, at 9:00 a.m. local time on June 22nd, Na-young Lee, Chair of the Korean Council, and Mayor of Stintino Rita Limbania Vallebella held their first official meeting at City Hall. They discussed Japanese military sexual slavery as a universal women’s rights issue and affirmed their shared commitment for a peaceful, war-free world. Mayor Vallebella emphasized that the statue serves as a reminder of the causes of sexual violence that women around the world still suffer from, and therefore, the inscription cannot be modified or removed.
The unveiling ceremony, held on June 22 in front of the Statue of Peace on Colombo Beach, aimed to raise awareness of the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict. Approximately 200 people attended, including Italian politicians such as the Mayor of Erula, representatives of local organizations, civil society members, citizens, and local and international journalists. ). Mayor Vallebella, other local mayors, Lee (the Chair of the Korean Council), and Mrs. Rosamaria Caiazza delivered congratulatory remarks. The choir of Stintino followed with a performance of “Arirang.”
In her remarks, Lee, the Chair of the Korean Council, emphasized that the Statue of Peace “address not only an issue between Korea and Japan, but also amplifies the experiences and voices of countless women across the Asia-Pacific region.” Mayor Vallebella higlighted that wartime sexual violence “remains a pressing issue in the conflicts, such as Palestine and Ukraine,” and “opposition of peace.” She stated, “By installing the Statue of Peace, we stand in solidarity with the suffering of all women impacted by the tragedy of war.”
As the “Arirang” song echoed through Stintino, tears welled eyes of the locals, symbolizing a mournful longing for the homeland for the homeland of victims of Japanese military sexual slavery who were taken overseas and never returned. Su-bok No, discovered as a victim in Thailand, had lost all memory of her Korean language, yet the song Arirang remained etched in her heart as an enduring testament to her harrowing experiences. The song also serves as the evidence of the reality the truth of Japanese military sexual slavery, as residents near ‘comfort stations’ testified about the ‘girls singing Arirang.’
During the installation of the Statue of Peace, Rosamaria Caiazza, a retired teacher, played a crucial role. She aimed to raise awareness about Japanese military sexual slavery as a universal women's rights issue. As a volunteer at Stintino City Hall, she convinced Mayor Vallebella, a human rights lawyer and longtime friend. Caiazza was the former editor of the web magazine Kotalia, a publication created by Italian and Korean citizens. Additionally, she supported the Federazione Italiana Donne Arti Professioni Affarir (F.I.D.A.P.A.), the Italian Federation of Women Artists Professionals in Business, and promoted women's initiatives.
The 'Statue of Peace' serves as a memorial created to commemorate the historical facts of the Japanese military sexual slavery issue and express hope for an end to ongoing wartime sexual violence worldwide. It stands as a symbol of women's rights. The first 'Statue of Peace' was installed in front of the Japanese Embassy in South Korea on December 14, 2011, to mark the 1,000th Wednesday Demonstration. Currently, there are a total of 148 Statues of Peace in South Korea and 31 overseas (excluding six that were removed or not reinstalled after exhibitions).
For the past 34 years, the Korean Council for Justice and Remembrance for the Issues of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan, led by Chairperson Na-Young Lee, has actively sought a just resolution to the Japanese military sexual slavery issue and advocated for the eradication of wartime sexual violence. The Korean Council has spearheaded installations of the Statue of Peace globally, including in Berlin, Germany, and fully supported the production and transportation costs related to the installation of the Statue of Peace in Italy. The Korean Council remains committed to expanding efforts to install the Statue of Peace worldwide.
On Saturday, June 22nd, at 11:00 a.m. local time, the Statue of Peace was successfully installed in Stintino, Sardinia, Italy, with an unveiling ceremony. After a long and suspenseful last-minute of preparation, the Statue of Peace will convey the significance of peace and remind awareness of wartime sexual violence to the citizens worldwide. This is the second Statue of Peace installed in a public space in Europe, following Berlin, Germany, and the 14th installed overseas.
(Rosamaria Caiazza, Na-yong Lee, and Rita Limbania Vallebelle)
Before the unveiling ceremony, at 9:00 a.m. local time on June 22nd, Na-young Lee, Chair of the Korean Council, and Mayor of Stintino Rita Limbania Vallebella held their first official meeting at City Hall. They discussed Japanese military sexual slavery as a universal women’s rights issue and affirmed their shared commitment for a peaceful, war-free world. Mayor Vallebella emphasized that the statue serves as a reminder of the causes of sexual violence that women around the world still suffer from, and therefore, the inscription cannot be modified or removed.
The unveiling ceremony, held on June 22 in front of the Statue of Peace on Colombo Beach, aimed to raise awareness of the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict. Approximately 200 people attended, including Italian politicians such as the Mayor of Erula, representatives of local organizations, civil society members, citizens, and local and international journalists. ). Mayor Vallebella, other local mayors, Lee (the Chair of the Korean Council), and Mrs. Rosamaria Caiazza delivered congratulatory remarks. The choir of Stintino followed with a performance of “Arirang.”
In her remarks, Lee, the Chair of the Korean Council, emphasized that the Statue of Peace “address not only an issue between Korea and Japan, but also amplifies the experiences and voices of countless women across the Asia-Pacific region.” Mayor Vallebella higlighted that wartime sexual violence “remains a pressing issue in the conflicts, such as Palestine and Ukraine,” and “opposition of peace.” She stated, “By installing the Statue of Peace, we stand in solidarity with the suffering of all women impacted by the tragedy of war.”
As the “Arirang” song echoed through Stintino, tears welled eyes of the locals, symbolizing a mournful longing for the homeland for the homeland of victims of Japanese military sexual slavery who were taken overseas and never returned. Su-bok No, discovered as a victim in Thailand, had lost all memory of her Korean language, yet the song Arirang remained etched in her heart as an enduring testament to her harrowing experiences. The song also serves as the evidence of the reality the truth of Japanese military sexual slavery, as residents near ‘comfort stations’ testified about the ‘girls singing Arirang.’
During the installation of the Statue of Peace, Rosamaria Caiazza, a retired teacher, played a crucial role. She aimed to raise awareness about Japanese military sexual slavery as a universal women's rights issue. As a volunteer at Stintino City Hall, she convinced Mayor Vallebella, a human rights lawyer and longtime friend. Caiazza was the former editor of the web magazine Kotalia, a publication created by Italian and Korean citizens. Additionally, she supported the Federazione Italiana Donne Arti Professioni Affarir (F.I.D.A.P.A.), the Italian Federation of Women Artists Professionals in Business, and promoted women's initiatives.
The 'Statue of Peace' serves as a memorial created to commemorate the historical facts of the Japanese military sexual slavery issue and express hope for an end to ongoing wartime sexual violence worldwide. It stands as a symbol of women's rights. The first 'Statue of Peace' was installed in front of the Japanese Embassy in South Korea on December 14, 2011, to mark the 1,000th Wednesday Demonstration. Currently, there are a total of 148 Statues of Peace in South Korea and 31 overseas (excluding six that were removed or not reinstalled after exhibitions).
For the past 34 years, the Korean Council for Justice and Remembrance for the Issues of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan, led by Chairperson Na-Young Lee, has actively sought a just resolution to the Japanese military sexual slavery issue and advocated for the eradication of wartime sexual violence. The Korean Council has spearheaded installations of the Statue of Peace globally, including in Berlin, Germany, and fully supported the production and transportation costs related to the installation of the Statue of Peace in Italy. The Korean Council remains committed to expanding efforts to install the Statue of Peace worldwide.