16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence Campaign 2010
November 25 – December 10 2010

Militarism and
Violence Against Women

 

 

About 16 Days:
The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence is an international campaign which began with the first Women’s Global Leadership Institute sponsored by the Center for Women’s Global Leadership in 1991. The dates November 25- International Day Against Violence Against Women- and December 10- International Human Rights Day- were symbolically chosen in order to emphasise that violence against women is a violation of human rights.

The international theme for this year’s 16 Days Campaign is “Structures of Violence: Defining the Intersections of Militarism and Violence Against Women”.
16 Days Homepage for more details

Related events to be held in Japan

◆Submission of international petition calling for the legislative resolution of the “comfort women” issue
Time: 12:00-16:00 , November 25 2010 (Thur.)
Venue: Main Conference room of 1st Members’ Office Bldg of the House of Representatives
Contents:
12:00-15:00 Citizens Hearing at the Diet, Submission of Petition, Press Conference
15:00-16:00 Stand in front of Diet

Petitions collected in Japan, South Korea, and internationally calling for the legislative resolution of the Japanese military sexual slavery, or the so-called “comfort women” issue to be submitted to the Japanese Government and Diet by former so-called “comfort women”, South Korean parliamentarians, and citizens from Japan and South Korea.

◆Exhibition of Artworks of Tomiyama Taeko: Painting on Asia and Colonialism
Date: November 26-December 11
Venue: Tokyo YWCA Kaffman Hall, Ochanomizu, Tokyo

Featuring paintings of Tomiyama Taeko, an artist who have kept taking up critical issues such as war and colonialism, Japanese military sexual slavery and imperialism.

◆Seminar with participation of Ms. Narcisa Claveria, a Filipino survivor of Japanese military sexual violence during WWII
Date:December 3, Fri. 18:30-21:00
Venue: Kinro-fukushi-kaikan, Ikebukuro, Tokyo

◆Awarding Ceremony of Yayori Award 2010 for Women’s Human Rights Activities
Date: December 4 (Sat.) 13:30-
Venue: Venue: A chapel on the 2nd floor of AVACO building in Waseda Hoshien
>>>Event details

◆International Symposium to mark the 10th Anniversary of the Women’s International War Crime Tribunal on Japan’s Military Sexual Slavery in 2000
Date: December 5 (Sun.)10:00-18:00
Venue: Tokyo University Foreign Studies

“The Women’s International War Crimes Tribunal on Japan’s Military Sexual Slavery” in 2000 was a people’s tribunal organised by Asian women and human rights organisations and supported by international NGOs, set up to adjudicate Japan’s military sexual violence, in particular the enslavement of “comfort women,” to bring those responsible for it to justice and to end the ongoing cycle of impunity for wartime sexual violence against women. To mark 10th anniversary of the Tribunal, the symposium will reevaluate the meanings of the Tribunal and achievements and remaining problems for movements to end sexual violence, colonialism and racism.
(※ Registration is now closed)

Related material:The Women’s International War Crimes Tribunal on Japan’s Military Sexual Slavery – 10 years on

◆Women’s rights under armed conflicts: Reports from Afghanistan, Darfur and Indian Kashmir
Speakers: Ms. Indai Sajor and Ms. Tahira Firdous (speech will be given in English)
Date: December 6, Monday. 18:30-
Venue: Women’s Museum on War and Peace

◆Testimony of Chinese survivor of the Japanese Military Sexual Slavery System and Her Son
Speakers: Wei Shaolan and Luo Shanxue , survivor and her son (Guilin, China)
Date: December 7, Tuesday. 19:00-
Venue: Liberty Hall, Waseda Houshi En (Tokyo, Waseda Sta.)
For details, please contact wam (wam@wam-peace.org)

◆Learning Japan’s War Crimes
Speakers: Ms. Narcisa Claveria, a Filipino survivor of Japanese military sexual violence during WWII
Date: December 8, Wednesday. 19:00-
Venue: Musashino Public Hall
For details, please contact Lola Net (Tel.0422(34)5498)

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US Military Bases and Sexual Violence
Despite the peaceful Constitution Article 9, The Japanese government has provided military bases to the United States under the US-Japan Security Treaty, wherein approximately 94000 soldiers and their family members have been stationed. Communities which host these bases have faced numerous problems including noise, pollution, traffic accidents, and crimes committed by American soldiers including sexual violence. Sexual violence still continues today with most perpetrators going unpunished, and victims receiving no compensation for the abuse they suffered at the hands of the US army.

Materials
◆ Violence against Women Sexual Violence Around Foreign Military Bases
◆AJWRC’s report on violations of women’s rights（Section C）
◆japon-contre-les-viols-des-soldats-americains-les-femmes-lancent-un-cri-dalarme
◆Respect women before setting up military bases – by Suvendrini Kakuni
◆ Voices From Japan 21: Sexual Violence in Japan – Challenging the Criminal Justice System
◆Voices From Japan 9: Women’s Resistance Against War and Violence
◆Voices From Japan 7: Violence Against Women in Japan[/b]

Japanese Military Sexual Slavery
Japanese military sexual slavery during the Second World War involved the forced recruitment of over 100,000 girls and women. These girls, many of whom were Korean, are referred to as “Comfort Women” and were used as prostitutes in military brothels, serving dozens of men every day. It was only in the 1990s when victims who had survived these atrocities began to speak out. To begin with, the Japanese government denied national responsibility for the “Comfort stations”. It has since made an official appology, but has not offered individual compensation to the victims.

◆The Women’s International War Crimes Tribunal on Japan’s Military Sexual Slavery – 10 years on
◆AJWRC’s report on violations of women’s rights(Section B)

AWRC-OMCTAJWRC-OMCT joint statement on Japanese Military Sexual Slavery

Voices From Japan 21: Sexual Violence in Japan – Challenging the Criminal Justice System

Voices From Japan 9: Women’s Resistance Against War and Violence

Voices From Japan 7: Violence Against Women in Japan[/size]

10 Years on from Security Council Resolution 1325: Progress of the International Community
2010 is the 10th year since the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 in October 2000. Resolution 1325 is for the prevention of violence against women in armed conflict, and represents the most important international agreement concerning the role of women in peace building. SCR1325 marked the first time the Security Council addressed the disproportionate impact of armed conflict on women and recognised the under-valued contributions women make to conflict prevention, conflict resolution and peace-building. Since then a further three resolutions have been adopted regarding women in armed conflict. The Security Council’s political recognition of the women, peace and security agenda demonstrates that gender is indeed central to international peace and security. However, the realisation of these commitments remains a long way off; the Japanese government and civil society must find a way of implementing an effective national action plan in order to adhere to their obligations.