November 25: International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women

Submission of international petition calling for the legislative resolution of the “comfort women” issue
Petitions collected in Japan, South Korea, and internationally calling for the legislative resolution of the Japanese military sexual slavery, or the so-called “comfort women” issue to be submitted to the Japanese Government and Diet by former so-called “comfort women”, South Korean parliamentarians, and citizens from Japan and South Korea .
■Time: 12:00-16:00 , November 25 2010 (Thur.)
* Entry passes will be distributed from 11:30 at the entrance of the 1st Members’ Office Bldg of the House of Representatives
■Venue: Main Conference room of 1st Members’ Office Bldg of the House of Representatives
■Contents:
12:00-15:00 Citizens Hearing at the Diet, Submission of Petition, Press Conference
15:00-16:00 Stand in front of Diet
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■Participants
Survivors: Gil Wonok, Lee Soosan, Song Sin-do, Kim Bok-deuk, Kim Bok-seon, Kim Kyeong-e, Lim Jeong-ja
South Korean Parliamentarians: Lee Mi-kyung (Democratic Party), Park Seon-young (Liberty Forward Party), Kim Young-seon (Grand National Party, TBC)
■Outline
With the Japanese administration change in August 2009, Japan, South Korea, and members of the international community commenced an urgent petition campaign demanding the resolution of the Japanese military sexual slavery, or so-called “Comfort Women” issue. In Japan, efforts were made to collect signatures calling for the urgent legislation on the issue of the so-called “comfort women.” from throughout Japan by 1.2 million people – 1% of the Japanese population. This was organised by an organising committee based in Kansai.
Following the lead by Japanese citizens, a civil petition was also launched in South Korea to gather 500,000 signatures – 1% of the Korean population. Furthermore, signatures were gathered from 176 South Korean parliamentarians and in solidarity by over 20,000 citizens from around the world. Petition campaigns were also carried out in the Philippines, Taiwan and Germany.
This has been a chance not only to gather many signatures, but to meet with individual citizens and explain to them the goal of the petition, and have them remember history, learn about the current situation, and call for resolution.
On November 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, these petitions demanding the legislative resolution of the issue of Japan’s military sexual slavery will be submitted to the Japanese Government and Diet. Time is running out for the women that were, and indeed still are, victims.
We hope that members of the press will consider attending the gathering at the Diet and covering this issue, as a first step by women and men all over the world, hoping for an end to violence against women, coming together to call on the Japanese government to resolve the so-called “comfort woman issue.”

■Citizens Hearing at the Diet (Scheduled)
[Part 1] 12:00-14:00
Voices from the Female Survivors
Statement from Korean Parliamentarians: Joint representatives of the Parliamentarians’ Association for the Resolution of the Japanese Army “Comfort Women” Issue: Lee Mi-kyung (Democratic Party), Park Seon-young (Liberty Forward Party), Kim Young-seon (Grand National Party, TBC)
Japan: Report on the 1.2 million endorsements:Tanaka Hiromi (Organizing Committee, Emergency 1.2 million Petition)
South Korea: Report on the 500,000 Citizens’ Petition, and the International Solidarity Petitions: Yune Meehyeng (Representative of The Korean Council for the Women Drafted for Military Sexual Slavery by Japan)
Comments by Diet Members and each Party (TBC)
[Part 2] 14:00-15:00
On The International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women
“Eliminating Violence against Women and the So-Called “Comfort Women” Issue”
Jung Young-hye (Sexual Violence Prohibition Law Network Otsuma Women’s College Professor)
Solidarity Message Philippines, Taiwan, etc
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■Organizers
[South Korea] The Korean Council for the Women Drafted for Military Sexual Slavery by Japan, Civil Association with Harumoni, the Drafted Women (Daegu)
[Japan] Emergency 1.2 Million Petition : We Demand Urgent Legislation on the Issue of the Japanese Military So-Called ‘Comfort Women’ Issue, Japanese Movement to Resolve the Japanese Army “Comfort Women” Issue 2010, Japan Network against Wartime Sexual Violence
■Contact Details
Emergency 1.2 Million Petition: We Demand Urgent Legislation on the Issue of the Japanese Military So-Called ‘Comfort Women’ Issue
TEL:080-6185-9995
Japanese Movement to Resolve the Japanese Army “Comfort Women” Issue 2010
Women’s Active Museum on War and Peace (WAM) TEL: 03-3202-4633
In charge of media on November 25: Nohira Shinsaku (Peace Boat, Eng/Jp, 090-6015-6820)