Group reiterates call for comfort women justice from PH gov't, Japan PM

Amid Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's visit to the Philippines, advocacy group Flowers for Lolas called on both the Philippine and Japanese governments to recognize and make reparations to comfort women.

“There are very few survivors left. One of them is Lola Estelita, 93 years old. So before they pass away we want the government to finally give recognition to this issue of comfort women," said Flowers for Lolas co-convenor Teresita Ang See in a press briefing on Saturday. "And we protest... it is not true that the government announcement that government reparations have already been given in 1945, is not true.”

“They refuse to even recognize them. They can’t even acknowledge that the comfort women are here with us,” See added.

On Saturday, Kishida stressed that Japan and the Philippines were committed to standing united against those who violate a rules-based order that ensures the human dignity of people.

“After 80 years Japan has not paid, has not even acknowledged its wrongdoing to the victims of World War II, victims of military violence, military sexual slavery. And Japan is here not to even recognize its wrongdoing but only to strengthen its own security,” said Attorney Virginia Suarez.

The group also mentioned that in March 2023, the Philippine government vowed to look into a United Nations (UN) panel report saying the Philippines failed to meet its obligations to the "comfort women."

This was after the findings of a United Nations committee showed that the Philippines violated the rights of comfort women by "failing to provide reparation, social support and recognition commensurate with the harm suffered."

The UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) recommended that the complainants receive from the state party "full reparation, including recognition and redress, an official apology and material and moral damages."

“This is just no longer the fight of Filipino comfort women, although justice for them remains a core objective of the campaign. You know wars are still happening all over the world. Even sila Lola Estelita would say they don’t expect justice in their lifetime. But it’s important for young people to not experience what they experienced,” said Sharon Cabusao-Silva.

“As long as there are wars in the world, we will continue our campaign for justice not only for our Lolas but also for all other victims of military sexual violence,” she added. — DVM, GMA Integrated News