In brief
With the passing of comfort woman Gil Won-ok, Mina Watanabe continues to advocate for the recognition of Japan's wartime sexual abuses and the rights of survivors.
In Tokyo, Mina Watanabe stands as a beacon of hope for the survivors of Japan’s so-called comfort women—a term for the women sexually enslaved by the Japanese military during World War II. Following the recent passing of Gil Won-ok, a renowned survivor and advocate, Watanabe feels a renewed urgency to ensure that these women's stories are not forgotten. Watanabe, co-founder of the Women’s Active Museum on War and Peace (WAM), has devoted her life to shining a light on this dark chapter of history. Although she wasn't born until years after the war, her commitment to women's rights emerged during her schooling, giving way to her passion for activism when survivors began sharing their harrowing experiences in the 1990s. Through WAM, established in 2005 with global support, she creates a platform for education and advocacy around wartime sexual violence, particularly focused on Japan's past. Despite facing backlash and isolation in her own country for her stance, Watanabe remains resolute in pushing for acknowledgment and reparations for the survivors. As the number of living survivors dwindles, the need for their stories to be heard remains critical, and Watanabe stands as a testament to their enduring fight for justice.
