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2000 Women’s International War Crimes Tribunal on Japan’s Military Sexual Slavery

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​In February 1997, Shinzo Abe, who later became Japan’s prime minister (2006–2007, 2012–present), became the executive director (事務局長) of the Association of Young Diet Members for Japan’s Future and Historical Education (日本の前途と歴史教育を考える若手議員の会). During that time, he led a movement to promote a nationalistic view of the history of Japan. The resulting textbooks glossed over war crimes committed by Japan, including the “comfort women” system. In response to the government’s ongoing misrepresentation of history, manifested in various ways, the Women’s International War Crimes Tribunal on Japan’s Military Sexual Slavery convened in Tokyo from December 8 to 12, 2000. 

This tribunal, also known as the Tokyo Tribunal 2000, resulted from the collective efforts of non-governmental organizations throughout Asia. More than a thousand people attended each day of the tribunal over the course of five days. The prosecutors came from ten different countries: Japan, South Korea, North Korea, Philippines, Indonesia, East Timor, Malaysia, Taiwan, China, and Holland. Thirty-five of the sixty-four surviving victims, representing eight Asian countries, including North and South Korea, China, Taiwan, Indonesia, and Burma, took part in the trial and testified. The 2000 Women’s International War Crimes Tribunal, gathering testimonies from the surviving victims, tried groups and individuals for rape and sexual slavery on behalf of the surviving former “comfort women.”  

Judge Gabrielle Kirk-McDonald, former president of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia from 1997 to 1999, presided over the Tokyo Tribunal 2000. On December 12, 2000, the Court delivered the preliminary judgment that found Emperor Hirohito (served 1926–1947) guilty of the charges on the basis of command responsibility. The panel of judges—Gabrielle Kirk-McDonald, Carmen Argibay, Christine Chinkin, and Willy Mutunga—also found the Japanese         government responsible and recommended reparations.   The International Organizing Committee (IOC), chaired by representatives from South Korea, Japan, and the Philippines, drafted the Charter of the Women’s International War Crimes Tribunal 2000 for the Trial of Japanese Military Sexual Slavery. The IOC convenors were: Chung-Ok Yun from the Korean Council, Matsui Yayori from the Violence Against Women in War Network Japan (VAWW-NET Japan), and Indai Loudres Sajor from the Asian Centre for Women’s Human Rights. At the 5th Asian Solidarity Conference held in Seoul, Korea in April 1998, Matsui Yayori proposed holding a Women’s International War Crimes Tribunal. Two years later, a tribunal was convened in Tokyo. 

​Since the 1960s, Yayori made tireless efforts to bring justice to victims of sexual violence. Working as a Japanese journalist at The Asahi Shimbun in the 1960s, Yayori raised awareness about sexual slavery and sex tourism in post-war Asia. In 1976, she founded Asian Women in Solidarity, and in 1998, she helped to create the Japanese branch of  VAWW-NET. Her activism and leadership in the women’s rights movement helped to bring the history and issues surrounding the victims of Japanese military  sexual slavery to the international level in a restoratively judicious manner. In her will, she left money to establish the Women’s Active  Museum of War and Peace in Tokyo (WAM), which opened in 2005. 

On December 4, 2001, The Hague issued the final verdict of the Women’s International War Crimes Tribunal on Japan’s Military Sexual Slavery. Although not all of the accused were convicted, Emperor Hirohito was found guilty of criminal negligence. As the supreme commander of the country, he was ultimately responsible for executing the military sexual slavery policy. Although not all of the accused were convicted, nine Japanese military officials and the Japanese Emperor Hirohito were found guilty of incurring individual and superior responsibility for the crimes of rape and sexual slavery committed as part of military sexual slavery. As the most responsible individual and supreme commander of the country, Emperor Hirohito was ultimately found responsible by the panel of judges for executing the military sexual slavery system. Although the Women’s International War Crimes Tribunal did not have legal powers to enforce the judgment, it enabled the voices of former “comfort women” to be heard around the world and legitimized their stories and experiences at an international level. 

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  • Home
    • About Us >
      • About Chiba Korean Elementary Middle School >
        • Student Art Exchange Program between Chiba and S.F.
        • ESJF Statement: “After ‘Lack of Freedom of Expression?’” Shut Down to Suppress Freedom of Expression
        • Letter to Aichi Prefectural Triennale Promotion Office
    • Contact Us >
      • Workshop and Lecture Request
    • Blog
    • ESJF in the News
  • Topics
    • "Comfort Women" History and Issues >
      • 2000 Women’s International War Crimes Tribunal on Japan’s Military Sexual Slavery
      • 2015 "Comfort Women" Agreement
      • Historic Lawsuits related to Japanese military sexual slavery before and during WWII
    • HISTORY and Issues Surrounding THE ASIAN DIASPORA in the United States
    • Medical Atrocities and Ethics
  • Educator Resources
    • "Comfort Women" History and Issues >
      • Primary Source Documents: "Comfort Women" History and Issues >
        • Concerning the Recruitment of Women for Military Comfort Stations
        • Psychological Warfare Interrogation Report No. 49
        • Psychological Warfare Interrogation Bulletin No. 2
        • SEATIC Psychological Warfare Bulletin No. 182
        • G-3 Daily Dairy
        • C.B.I. Roundup
        • Allied Translator and Interpreter Section (ATIS) No. 470
        • Research Report No. 120: Amenities in the Japanese Armed Forces
        • Photographs
        • San Francisco Local History >
          • Reflection and Chronology: Eric Mar
          • Reflection: Steven Whyte & Ellen Wilson
          • Chronology: Teaching "Comfort Women" History from the 1990s to Present
      • Secondary Source Documents/ Further Resources: "Comfort Women" History and Issues >
        • Secondary Resource References
        • International Joint Statement, January 7, 2018
        • International Joint Statement, October 6, 2018
        • International Joint Statement, March 1, 2019
        • International Joint Statement, August 14, 2019
        • ESJF Statement on the South Korea Court’s ruling, January 8, 2021
      • Historical Background
      • Victims' Testimonies >
        • Korea
        • China
        • Philippines
        • Indonesia
        • Netherlands
        • Japan
      • 2017 CA H-SS Framework >
        • Basic questions surrounding the Japanese Military Sexual Slavery
      • Lesson Plans: "Comfort Women" History and Issues >
        • ​Reality and trauma of military sexual slavery
        • Denial of legal and historical responsibility
        • ​Remembering and honoring "comfort women"
        • Sex trafficking
        • Collective activism
        • Contemporary movements towards justice
        • Sexual and medical violence against Blacks
      • Worksheets
      • Activity Sheets
      • Map of Memorials in the United States
      • Peace Girl Statue
      • 2017 Special Task Force Report on 2015 "Comfort Women" Agreement between S. Korea and Japan
      • YouTube >
        • First Video Footage of Korean "Comfort Women": July, 2017
        • First Video Footage of Mass Murdered "Comfort Women": Feb. 2018
        • Animation Herstory
        • Justice for the victims of the Japanese military “comfort women” system
        • Life as a "Comfort Woman": Story of Kim Bok-Dong
        • Meet Estelita Dy: A Filipino "Comfort Woman" Survivor
        • Wednesday Rally
        • 2015 "Comfort Women" Agreement and Victims' Reaction
        • 2018 International "Comfort Women" Day
    • Medical Atrocities and Ethics >
      • Asia >
        • Video Footage for Classroom
        • Primary Source Documents: Medical Atrocities and Ethics
        • Secondary Source Documents: Medical Atrocities and Ethics
        • Lesson Plans
      • Europe >
        • Lesson Plans
      • United States >
        • Lesson Plans
    • History and Issues Surrounding the Asian Diaspora >
      • K-5
      • 6-8
      • 9-12
  • Our Publications
    • "Comfort Women" History and Issues >
      • Teacher Resource Guide >
        • How to Order
      • Student Resource Guide >
        • How to Order
    • Medical Atrocities and Ethics >
      • Asia
      • Europe
      • United States
  • Professional Development Events
  • Partners
  • Give