INVITATION TO PARTICIPATE in the Global Day of Action in Support of Redress for “Comfort Women” and other Asian Holocaust Victims cum Commemoration of the 60th Anniversary of the End of WWII in Asia
Date: August 10, 2005 (Wednesday)
Time: 12 noon ? 1 pm
Venue: in front of the Japanese Consulate in Vancouver, 1177 W. Hastings St. Downtown Vancouver
Background of redress for “comfort women” and other Asian Holocaust victims
An estimated 30 million people, including Canadian troops, perished in Asia during World War II due to atrocities and attempted genocides committed by Axis Japanese troops (1931-45); the atrocities were comprised of unspeakable horrors, involving women coerced into sexual slavery (so-called “comfort women”), the Rape of Nanking and other massacres, germ and chemical warfare, pseudo-medical experimentation and vivisection of humans, and torture of prisoners of war and forced laborers. It’s been 60 years since World War II and yet, the Japanese government has not demonstrated any real recognition of the war crimes, neither has apologized to nor taken any concrete action to redress the victims.
Hundreds of thousands of girls in Asia, including an estimated 200,000 Koreans and another 200,000 Chinese were forced into military sexual slavery by the Japanese military. Since 8 January 1992, the former Korean “comfort women” have been continuing their weekly protest rally in front of the Japanese embassy in Seoul every single Wednesday, demanding official apology and legal compensation from Japan.
The Korean Council for Women Drafted for Military Sexual Slavery by Japan
The Korean Council was established in 1990 to struggle and work for the human rights of the “comfort women” and is coordinating this worldwide campaign Global Day Of Action In Support Of Redress For “Comfort Women” on August 10, 2005. This campaign includes a petition by international organizations to the UN and the International Labour Organization (ILO) and protest rallies at Japanese consulates and embassies worldwide on August 10.
Global Day of Action in Vancouver
The Multi-ethnic Coalition for Redress, Reconciliation and Peace for the Asia-Pacific* supports the call of the Korean Council for Women Drafted for Military Sexual Slavery by Japan. In Vancouver, the theme is Global Day of Action in Support of Redress for “Comfort Women” and other Asian Holocaust Victims cum Commemoration of the 60th Anniversary of the End of WWII in Asia. Besides testimonies and speakers, the rally will be accompanied by ethnic drumming. Councillor Tim Louis will represent the Mayor of Vancouver to read out the Proclamation of Day of Peace in the Asia Pacific to commemorate the 60th Anniversary of the end of WWII in Asia. Female participants are encouraged to put on their traditional ethnic dress.
Contacts
Thekla Lit <bcalpha@shaw.ca>
Mary-Woo Sims <marywoosims@shaw.ca>
*The Position Paper of the Multi-ethnic Coalition for Redress, Reconciliation and Peace for the Asia-Pacific (http://www.alpha-canada.org/multiethnic) has been endorsed by the following organizations:-
w Canada Association for Learning and Preserving the History of WWII in Asia
w Canada Asia Pacific Resource Network
w Zainichi Korean Group
w Chinese Benevolent Association of Vancouver
w Association of Chinese Canadian Professionals
w S.U.C.C.E.S.S. (The United Chinese Community Enrichment Services Society)
w Association of Chinese Canadians for Equality and Solidarity Society
w Toronto Association for Learning and Preserving the History of WWII in Asia
w StopWar.ca (Vancouver's Labour/Community Coalition of over 160 member organizations united for Justice and Peace)
w Canada Palestine Support Network
w Korean Students Network Against War
w Korean Society of B.C. for Fraternity and Culture
w Korean Women's International Network (KOWIN) Ottawa Chapter
w Ottawa Lung Kong Association
w Ottawa Association for Learning and Preserving the History of WWII in Asia
w Vancouver Hong Kong Forum Society
w BC Society of Human Rights Defenders
w Chinese Community Association of Ottawa
w Chinese Canadian Military Museum Society
w Alumni Association of Taiwan Universities and Colleges in Ottawa
w South Asian Network for Secularism and Democracy
w Chetna Association of Canada
w Polaris Institute
Date: August 10, 2005 (Wednesday)
Time: 12 noon ? 1 pm
Venue: in front of the Japanese Consulate in Vancouver, 1177 W. Hastings St. Downtown Vancouver
Background of redress for “comfort women” and other Asian Holocaust victims
An estimated 30 million people, including Canadian troops, perished in Asia during World War II due to atrocities and attempted genocides committed by Axis Japanese troops (1931-45); the atrocities were comprised of unspeakable horrors, involving women coerced into sexual slavery (so-called “comfort women”), the Rape of Nanking and other massacres, germ and chemical warfare, pseudo-medical experimentation and vivisection of humans, and torture of prisoners of war and forced laborers. It’s been 60 years since World War II and yet, the Japanese government has not demonstrated any real recognition of the war crimes, neither has apologized to nor taken any concrete action to redress the victims.
Hundreds of thousands of girls in Asia, including an estimated 200,000 Koreans and another 200,000 Chinese were forced into military sexual slavery by the Japanese military. Since 8 January 1992, the former Korean “comfort women” have been continuing their weekly protest rally in front of the Japanese embassy in Seoul every single Wednesday, demanding official apology and legal compensation from Japan.
The Korean Council for Women Drafted for Military Sexual Slavery by Japan
The Korean Council was established in 1990 to struggle and work for the human rights of the “comfort women” and is coordinating this worldwide campaign Global Day Of Action In Support Of Redress For “Comfort Women” on August 10, 2005. This campaign includes a petition by international organizations to the UN and the International Labour Organization (ILO) and protest rallies at Japanese consulates and embassies worldwide on August 10.
Global Day of Action in Vancouver
The Multi-ethnic Coalition for Redress, Reconciliation and Peace for the Asia-Pacific* supports the call of the Korean Council for Women Drafted for Military Sexual Slavery by Japan. In Vancouver, the theme is Global Day of Action in Support of Redress for “Comfort Women” and other Asian Holocaust Victims cum Commemoration of the 60th Anniversary of the End of WWII in Asia. Besides testimonies and speakers, the rally will be accompanied by ethnic drumming. Councillor Tim Louis will represent the Mayor of Vancouver to read out the Proclamation of Day of Peace in the Asia Pacific to commemorate the 60th Anniversary of the end of WWII in Asia. Female participants are encouraged to put on their traditional ethnic dress.
Contacts
Thekla Lit <bcalpha@shaw.ca>
Mary-Woo Sims <marywoosims@shaw.ca>
*The Position Paper of the Multi-ethnic Coalition for Redress, Reconciliation and Peace for the Asia-Pacific (http://www.alpha-canada.org/multiethnic) has been endorsed by the following organizations:-
w Canada Association for Learning and Preserving the History of WWII in Asia
w Canada Asia Pacific Resource Network
w Zainichi Korean Group
w Chinese Benevolent Association of Vancouver
w Association of Chinese Canadian Professionals
w S.U.C.C.E.S.S. (The United Chinese Community Enrichment Services Society)
w Association of Chinese Canadians for Equality and Solidarity Society
w Toronto Association for Learning and Preserving the History of WWII in Asia
w StopWar.ca (Vancouver's Labour/Community Coalition of over 160 member organizations united for Justice and Peace)
w Canada Palestine Support Network
w Korean Students Network Against War
w Korean Society of B.C. for Fraternity and Culture
w Korean Women's International Network (KOWIN) Ottawa Chapter
w Ottawa Lung Kong Association
w Ottawa Association for Learning and Preserving the History of WWII in Asia
w Vancouver Hong Kong Forum Society
w BC Society of Human Rights Defenders
w Chinese Community Association of Ottawa
w Chinese Canadian Military Museum Society
w Alumni Association of Taiwan Universities and Colleges in Ottawa
w South Asian Network for Secularism and Democracy
w Chetna Association of Canada
w Polaris Institute
