on Nov 18, 2010

 

 

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

◆War Experience of an 14-years-old Girl: Workshop by AJWRC Youth Group on Japanese Sexual Slavery System during the Asia Pacific War
Time: 14:00-16:00 , November 23, 2011 (Holiday)
Venue: Hitotsubu-no-Tane (6 min.walk from JR Komagome Sta., Tokyo)

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

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

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.