Honoring the Voices of Japan’s Comfort Women: A Call to Action

As the loss of comfort women survivors looms, Mina Watanabe champions their stories, emphasizing the necessity for recognition and reparations from Japan's wartime actions.

Mina Watanabe dedicates her life to bringing awareness to the plight of the so-called comfort women - victims of sexual slavery by the Japanese military during World War II and beyond. As co-founder of the Women’s Active Museum on War and Peace (WAM) in Tokyo, her focus is on ensuring that the stories of these women are not forgotten. Her journey into advocacy began when she encountered survivors in the 1990s. Their testimonies ignited a deep-seated commitment to women's rights that propelled her into action.

The death of Gil Won-ok, a 96-year-old comfort woman from South Korea, marked a significant loss for the movement, leaving only a few survivors to bear witness to the atrocities committed. Gil was part of about 240 women who made their voices heard, adding gravitas to the ongoing fight for accountability from Japan.

Despite facing criticism and isolation within her own society for addressing these historical injustices, Watanabe has continued to push for acknowledgment and reparations. Her efforts have helped foster discussions around wartime sexual violence, making a mark on international awareness and advocating for the rights of these women to be recognized and honored. Through her museum, she educates future generations and promotes understanding of the systemic issues surrounding sexual violence in conflict.

Watanabe’s work stands as a testament to the resilience of the survivors and a clarion call for justice. She recognizes that the task ahead is daunting but remains committed to helping prevent similar atrocities from happening in the future, fighting for the dignity of those affected by the war’s dark legacy.