Search / Search Results Date Added to Site: 17th February 2006     Short Summary Title Still Waiting After 60 years: Justice for Survivors of Japan's Military Sexual Slavery System Author Amnesty International Publication Date October 2005 Publisher Amnesty International Short Summary In war zones all over the world crimes of sexual violence, including rape, are used as a weapon of war. However, despite such human rights violations, these crimes generally go unpunished and survivors are left with no redress. A compelling example is the system of institutionalized sexual slavery used by the Japanese Imperial Army before and during World War II and the subsequent denials of responsibility for the system by the Japanese government. Up to 200,000 women, known euphemistically as 'comfort women' were forced into sexual servitude. Since then many have suffered from physical and mental ill-health, isolation, shame and often extreme poverty. 60 years on the survivors are still waiting for justice to be done. This report summarises the evidence that the “comfort women” system violated international law and in light of this the legal obligations the state has to provide full compensation to the survivors. Amnesty International highlights the limited steps the Japanese government has taken and calls on it to implement mechanisms to provide full reparations to survivors and remove legal barriers towards bringing claims before Japanese courts. Summary Source Adapted from author Complete Documents http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGASA220122005?open&of=ENG-373   View PostScript Document (pdf)