A civil tribunal, aimed at condemning Japan’s wartime crimes of sexual slavery against women, will convene in Tokyo, Dec. 7-l2.
The women’s tribunal will hear testimonies of victimized women and detemine the accountability of the Japanese government under international and humanitarian law.
Plaintiffs will come from eight countries— South and North Korea, China, Taiwan, Indonesia, the Philippines, the Netherlands and East Timor.
“Although the tribunal has no legal binding force, it is significant because it will offer an opportunity to clarify the responsibility of the Japanese government and heighten awareness of the issue at the international community,” said Yun Chung-ok, 62, co-head of the Korean Council for Women Drafted for Sexual Slavery by Japan, the leading organizer of the event.
Other co-organizers include the Asian Center for Women’s Human Rights and the Violence Against Women in War Network of Japan.
The Tokyo tribunal will be composed of three chief prosecutors, six judges, six legal experts and three to seven prosecutors from each victimized country, according to the Korean Council. Whether the defendants will be the Japanese government in general or specific individuals is yet to be decided on, Yun said.
More than, l,000 people are expected to attend the tribunal, including internationally acclaimed figures such as Gabrielle Kirk McDonald, former chief judge of the Yugoslavia War Crimes Tribunal, and Gay McDougall, former U.N. special rapporteur who visited Korea last year to investigate the issue.
Prosecutions will be held from Dec. 8 through Dec. l2, and the judge panel will give a ruling on the crimes on the last day.
A variety of events, such as street campaigns, exhibitions, and festivals are planned during the period. Women from around the world will also testify on Dec. ll on the sexual violence and slavery which are presently taking place in a international public hearing.
Korea has the largest delegation to the event, fielding a total of 233 people, including 30 former comfort women, 48 students and l00 other civilians. North Korea will also send about l0 delegates.
“The two Koreas will collaborate on the issue by preparing a joint indictment. We have nearly completed it,” Yun said.
“Japan continues to deny any legal responsibility for wartime sexual crimes. With the help of the international community, we will pressure Japan to give a formal apology and compensate the victims on a government level,” said Yun.
An estimated l50,000 women were forced to serve as prostitutes to the Japanese army during world War II, with Korean women accounting for 80 percent.
The Japanese government has been under mounting pressure on the issue since a lawsuit has been under way at fifteen former comfort women, including six Koreans, filed a class action suit in September against the Japanese government at the Washington D.C. District Court. They are demanding that Japan’s government compensate the victims.
Meanwhile, a variety of events are planned in Seoul to get the attention of local people before the tribunal. An academic symposium was held on Nov. l6 to honor the l0th anniversary of the founding of the Korean Council and “Justice 2000 Festival” on the l7th, featuring music, films, and drawings related to the comfort women.
For more information, call the Korean Council at 02-365-40l6 or visit http://witness.peacenet. or.kr or www.tribunal2000.org.
jysoh@koreatimes.co.kr