News and reviews from the Human Rights Action Centre

By Alison, 16th Nov 2007 - 12:36:44 :

Its 62 years since Gil Won Ok and Ellen van der Ploeg were forced into sexual slavery by the Japanese military but their determination to wrest an apology out of the Japanese government remains undiminished. Speaking at the Human Rights Action Centre (HRAC) last night, these two frail elderly women looked as though they should have been relaxing in an armchair, not traipsing half way across Europe in a bid to gain support for their campaign. Gil Won Ok spoke of her experience when as a 13 year old girl she was offered a job by a Japanese soldier in a factory. Excited at the prospect of learning new skills, she went with him, only to find when she got there that the factory was in fact a brothel. Gil was locked in a small bare room where she was regularly beaten and forced to have sex with Japanese soldiers so frequently she didnt even have time to wash herself in between.

Ellen van der Ploeg was taken as a prisoner of war in Indonesia, along with her family. They were taken to a camp where all the girls and women over the age of 15 were made to walk around a group of Japanese officials. Those selected were told to say goodbye to their families and were sent off to another camp where their role was basically to 'pleasure' the Japanese army. If they disobeyed, they were beaten and denied food.

So far, the Japanese government have consistantly denied that any women or girls were forced into sexual slavery, even going so far as to print full page ads in Japanese newspapers claiming that so- called 'Comfort Women' were in fact highly paid prostitutes who were well treated and frequently earned more than officers. Of the estimated 200,000 women who were enslaved by the Japanese military during World War ll, most are now dead, having lived the rest of their lives in shame and poverty. Many committed suicide.

These 2 elderly women have shown amazing courage in speaking publicly about such personal experiences. Hopefully their bravery and spirit will pay off and they, and the other remaining 'Comfort Women' will finally recieve the apology they deserve.

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