Regional Solidarity for Comfort Women Justice

KEPO

• 2 min read
Regional Solidarity for Comfort Women Justice

Phnom Penh, Cambodia – A new regional initiative has been proposed to address the unresolved issue of wartime sexual violence against comfort women across Asia. Survivors and advocacy groups in Korea, Taiwan, the Philippines, China, and other countries continue to demand recognition, reparations, and justice. With many survivors now elderly, advocates stress the urgency of amplifying their voices and strengthening solidarity across borders.

The Khmer Empire Peace Organisation (KEPO) and the Knights of the Celtic Cross (KOCC), two Cambodian NGOs committed to peace and human rights, have joined forces with religious organizations across Asia to launch a coalition aimed at uniting advocacy groups and broadening the movement into a pan-Asian front.

Objectives of the Initiative

  • Regional Solidarity: Build a coalition linking comfort women advocacy groups with peace and justice NGOs.
  • Awareness & Education: Promote survivor testimonies and historical truth through schools, universities, and community programs.
  • Advocacy & Policy: Coordinate lobbying efforts at national and international levels, including ASEAN and the United Nations.
  • Interfaith Engagement: Mobilize religious organizations to provide moral authority, community support, and symbolic acts of remembrance.
  • Youth Involvement: Engage younger generations to ensure continuity of the movement.

Proposed Activities

  • Regional Forum: An annual conference rotating among Asian countries, with the inaugural forum planned for Southeast Asia.
  • Joint Campaigns: Coordinated commemorations on August 14, International Comfort Women Memorial Day.
  • Educational Outreach: Shared curricula, exhibitions, and survivor testimony events.
  • Interfaith Vigils: Prayer services and memorial ceremonies organized by churches, temples, and mosques.
  • Digital Platform: A shared website and social media hub for coalition updates, survivor stories, and advocacy resources.

Partners

The initiative will bring together comfort women advocacy groups such as the Korean Council for Justice and Remembrance, Lila Pilipina in the Philippines, and the Taipei Women’s Rescue Foundation, alongside Cambodian NGOs KEPO and KOCC. Religious organizations across Asia—including Christian, Buddhist, Muslim, and interfaith councils—are also expected to participate, with support from international allies focused on wartime justice and women’s rights.

Expected Outcomes

Organizers anticipate stronger regional visibility and legitimacy for comfort women advocacy, increased public awareness across Asia, and coordinated lobbying efforts with greater impact at international forums. The initiative also aims to secure sustained intergenerational commitment to justice and remembrance.

Next Steps

The proposal outlines three immediate actions:

  1. Establishing a steering committee with representatives from each partner organization.
  2. Drafting a charter of principles to define shared goals and commitments.
  3. Launching the initiative with a regional forum in Taiwan.

Groups or individuals interested in participating or partnering please contact us by email or Whatsapp, Telegram or Line +639082863117 amandfm@mail.com