Honoring the Legacy: The Fight for Justice for Comfort Women Continues

Activist Mina Watanabe dedicates her work to ensuring the voices of comfort women are heard, continuing the fight for their rights and reparations, especially following the passing of notable survivor Gil Won-ok.

Mina Watanabe, a Japanese activist, has committed her life to highlight the struggles of women known as "comfort women," who were subjected to sexual slavery by the Japanese military before and during World War II. Watanabe is the co-founder of the Women’s Active Museum on War and Peace (WAM) in Tokyo, a space dedicated to raising awareness of Japan's historical mistreatment of these women and other victims of sexual violence in conflict.

The recent passing of 96-year-old Gil Won-ok, a prominent survivor from South Korea, reminds us of the dwindling number of voices speaking about this dark chapter in history. Amongst an estimated 240 South Korean survivors who have come forward, her death marked the loss of a significant advocate for justice and acknowledgment from Japan. With only a few survivors remaining, the urgency to keep this issue alive has never been greater.

Mina Watanabe, who has no personal connection to the victims, was catalyzed into action after meeting with survivors in the 1990s. This pivotal moment led to her founding WAM in 2005 with the help of supporters both domestically and internationally. Her mission has been clear: to advocate for comprehensive acknowledgment and reparations for comfort women while emphasizing the issue of sexual violence in military history, particularly related to Japan.

Despite receiving criticism and sometimes finding herself isolated from the larger Japanese society, Watanabe remains steadfast in her commitment. The journey for justice for these women is ongoing, and through initiatives like WAM, she continues to elevate their stories in the hope of creating a more informed and compassionate society.