Friends of Comfort Women Australia

by, Michael Gawenda

IT WAS mentioned only in passing amid the extensive reporting of the conflict in Georgia: rape had, apparently, once again been used as a weapon of war. This is not surprising.

Rape has been used as a weapon of war for thousands of years. It is still used this way, despite the fact that it has been declared a war crime and a crime against humanity by the United Nations. Thousands of women were raped during the conflict in the Balkans in the 1990s; thousands, perhaps hundreds of thousands, were raped in the civil war in the Congo; and thousands have been raped in Darfur in the decades-long campaign of genocide by the Sudanese Government and their Janjaweed militia.

Rape as a weapon of war has been extensively employed by soldiers across vastly different cultures. The consequences for the women subjected to this form of violence are lifelong: in many instances, they are cast out - or subjected to further violence - by their families and their communities.

Read the rest of the story in The Age

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13th-16th August 2008

August 15th marks the 63rd anniversary of the end of WWII. It’s also a day of Global Action for “Comfort Women” with solidarity activities in Korea, Japan, Phillipines, Taiwan, Indonesia, Netherlands, Germany, USA and Australia.

Friends of “Comfort Women” in Australia (FCWA) and Korean Council together with supporting organizations invite you to the events below aimed to raise awareness and build support for the Australian parliament to pass a motion urging the Japanese government’s official apology to the survivors.

Speakers are:

* Australian survivor Jan Ruff O’Herne
* Korean survivor Gil Won Ok
* Korean activist Yoon Mee Hyang
* Korean activist/academic Prof Cho Shi Hyun
* Japanese activist/academic Prof Michiko Nakahara

In Melbourne

TITLE: ‘Comfort Women’, Memory and Justice - Free Public Lecture
DATE: Wednesday 13 August
TIME: 5.30 - 7.30 pm
LOCATION: Menzies Building, Lecture Theatre H1, Monash University, Clayton
ENQUIRIES: Email Beatrice.Trefalt@arts.monash.edu.au, mrom3@student.monash.edu.au or call 03 9905 5118

TITLE:Lunchtime Public Forum on “Comfort Women” by Amnesty International Australia
DATE: Thursday 14 August
TIME: 1-2pm
LOCATION: Legislative Assembly Chamber of Victorian Parliament
ENQUIRIES: Email vicaia@amnesty.org.au

Justice for “Comfort Women” - From a Japanese Perspective & “Comfort Women” and UN Human Rights Bodies 1992-2008
DATE:Thursday 14 August
TIME:6pm for refreshments & 6.30pm for lecture
LOCATION:Lecture Theatre 102, Melbourne Law School, 185 Pelham Street, Carlton
ENQUIRIES:Email fcw_australia@hotmail.com or call 0412 339 222

15th August Global Action for “Comfort Women” - Public Rally
DATE: Friday 15 August 2008
TIME:12 noon start
LOCATION:City Square, Melbourne (Cnr Swanston St and Collins Sts - Opposite Melbourne Town Hall)
ENQUIRIES: Email fcw_australia@hotmail.com or call 0412 339 222

In Sydney

Public Forum and Fundraiser Dinner for Women and Human Rights Museum
DATE: Saturday 16 August 2008
TIME: 6pm for 6.30pm start
LOCATION: Korean Society Hall, 82 Brighton Avenue, Croydon Park
COST: $20 (students and aged pensions and other social security recipients )
$30 and over for income earners
ENQUIRIES: Email fcw_australia@hotmail.com or call 0412 339 222