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What's the Tribunal 2000?

What's Sexual Slavery?

Please support these women's struggle;
Come and join
International Solidarity Action
for
the 600th "Wednesday Demonstration"
by Korean "Comfort Women" Survivors
March 17, 2004

(as of March10. all information is in local time)

Asia

Seoul, Korea	12:00-13:30	Events by Korean Council for Women Drafted for Military Sexual Slavery by Japan (in front of Japanese Embassy)
TOKYO	12:00-13:00	Gathering with Diet members and silent demonstration in front of the Bldg. of Councilors, Nagatacho
	19:00-20:00	Solidarity vigil in the square of East-South exit of JR Shinjuku station
FUKUOKA	18:00-19:00	Solidarity vigil in front of the former Iwataya Concourse
HIROSHIMA	12:00-13:00	Solidarity vigil in front of Hiroshima Peace Memorial
HOKKAIDO	12:00-13:00	Prayer in Solidarity
OSAKA	19:00-20:00	Solidarity vigil in square beside the East exit of JR Osaka Station
NAGOYA		Solidarity vigil (TBA)
OKINAWA		Solidarity vigil (TBA)
Manila, Philippines		(TBA)
Taipei, Taiwan	10:30-11:00	Solidarity event by Taipei Women's Rescue Foundation (in front of the Interchange Association)

Europe

Louvain, Belgium	12:30-13.00	Solidarity vigil by Women in Black Louvain (at City administrative building)
Berlin, Germany	12:00-13:00	Solidarity event by Association of Korean Women in Germany (in front of Japanese Embassy)
Barcelona, Spain		Solidarity vigil by Women in Black Barcelona (March 16, time and place to be finalized)

North America

Frederick, MD, USA	18:30-19:30	Solidarity vigil by Women in Black Frederick at Market & Patrick Streets
Woodstock,NY, USA	12:00-13:00	Solidarity vigil by Women in Black Woodstock in Village Green

Korean survivors of the sexual slavery of the former Japanese Military have been demonstrating every single Wednesday for 12 years in front of the Seoul Japanese Embassy since January 8, 1992, demanding for official apology and state reparation. As this "Wednesday Demonstration" marks its 600th day on March 17, 2004, a number of organizations around the world will organize solidarity actions in Korea, Japan, Taiwan, the United States, Germany and Belgium. The Declaration of 600 people in solidarity with the Wednesday Demonstration will be announced.

In Japan, a gathering with Diet members and silent demonstration will be held in front of the Building of Members of House of Councillors from noon. Besides, a number of solidarity vigils are planned in Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka and other places.

The 600th Wednesday Demonstration is to demand for true resolution of the "comfort women" issue, which should involve legislation for state reparation for individuals. Survivors have brought 10 legal actions against Japanese government over state responsibility for the sexual slavery, which was never judged at the post-war Tokyo Tribunal. So far all these files were rejected, however, as the Japanese government only repeats its claim that war crimes were dully resolved by the inter-state compensation. It has also never responded to many recommendations given by the International Women's Tribunal on War Crimes against Women in 2000. Last summer, Korean and Taiwanese survivors desperately came to Japan risking their lives, saying that "there is so much unresolved suffering inside the heart that would not go away." As many survivors have passed away without seeing justice, immediate actions to realize litigation and other measures to respond to their grievance.

This international action is also to renew our will against war and armed conflicts and for a world without violence. We jointly appeal that facing with the past war crimes is essential to stand against war and militarization, as Ms. Song Shindo, a survivor in Miyagi, Japan, repeatedly appeals that "once a war is declared, young people are compelled to kill, rob and serve their lives for nation. I just want to say that there never should be war."
Please come and join us in the actions listed above, or demand justice for these women survivors at the nearby Japanese embassy/consulate in your area as your part of "International Solidarity Day for the 600th Wednesday Demonstration."

ORGANIZERS: Comfort Women Litigation Network "Shimonoseki Hanketsu wo Ikasu Kai"/ Advocacy Group for Legislation Settlement on "Comfort Women" Issue / VAWW-NET Japan/ Women in Black Tokyo/ Asia-Japan Women's Resource Center

Contact for more details: E-mail: suiyodemo@yahoo.co.jp
Mobile:Motoyama (090-9329-1948) for English, and Yang (090-6481-5368) for Japanese and Korean

About Other Organizers:

Comfort Women Litigation Network "Shimonoseki Hanketsu wo Ikasu Kai" is a network of groups that advocate for early settlement of the "comfort women" issues, realizing principles of the judgement of Kampu Court Case. It is composed of the following groups: Support Group for Kanpu Court Case, Support Group for Filipino former "Military Comfort Women" Court Case, Lunas Together With Filipino former "Comfort Women," Tokyo Archdiocesean Catholic Justice and Peace Committee, Support Group for Japanese Resident Korean Comfort Woman Court Case, Support Group for Chinese "Comfort Women" Court Case, Support Group for Compensation Suit and Research and Investigation of Japan's Sexual Slavery in China, and Taiwanese Comfort Women Legal Support Group

Advocacy Group for Legislation Settlement on "Comfort Women" Issue is working for realization of special legislation for state reparation for individual victims of "comfort women" since 1996.

Women In Black Tokyo was formed in 2001 as a part of international Women in Black network against war, militarism and violence against women, practicing silent vigil in black morning victims of violence.
URL:http://home.interlink.or.jp/~reflect/WIBTokyo/home.html

Asia-Japan Women's Resource Center has been working for networking and empowerment of women, promoting international information exchange and other activities. URL: http://www.jca.apc.org/ajwrc/