Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 8) — The United Nations (UN) women’s rights committee has found that the Philippines violated the rights of sexual slavery victims at the hands of the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II “by failing to provide reparation, social support and recognition” to the harm suffered.
According to the decision of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), 24 Filipino women from the non-profit organization Malaya Lolas had \”repeatedly raised their demands, asking their Government to support their claims against Japan for reparations for their suffering.\”
Malaya Lolas was established to provide support to sexual slavery survivors or victims – commonly known as \”comfort women\” during the war.
\”They asserted that the Philippines’ failure to fight for their cause had essentially resulted in ongoing discrimination against them that continues to this day,\” the committee said.
Victim complainants were forcibly taken to, detained under \”inhumane conditions,\” and sexually abused at the Bahay na Pula (Red House), the Japanese headquarters in San Ildefonso, Pampanga back in 1944.
The complainants said they have since endured long-term physical, psychological, social and economic consequences, including physical injuries, post-traumatic stress, permanent damage to their reproductive capacity, and harm to their social relationships in their community, marriage and work.
The victims added that their repeated efforts were dismissed by authorities, with their last action turned down by the Supreme Court in 2014.
The Philippine government, however, maintained that it is not in a position to claim compensation from Japan after ratifying the Treaty of Peace in 1956.
The complainants defended their case to CEDAW in 2019, seeking to establish the responsibility of the government to fulfill its commitments under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women in supporting the non-discrimination of women and girls on its territory.
CEDAW, in its decision, noted that the Philippines had waived its right to compensation by signing the Treaty of Peace, but underlined that the complaint is a case of continuous discrimination.
\”The Committee observed that the Philippine Commission on Women had not addressed the institutionalized system of wartime sexual slavery, its consequences for victims and survivors, or their protection needs,\” the UN said.
\”In contrast, Philippine war veterans, who are mostly men, are entitled to special and esteemed treatment from the Government, such as educational benefits, health-care benefits, old age, disability and death pensions,\” it added.
