Introduction: Memory, Justice, and the Power of Women’s Movements

The memory of the "comfort women"—the hundreds of thousands of women and girls subjected to sexual slavery by the Japanese Imperial Army during World War II—continues to echo across generations. Their courage and resilience have inspired global action, transforming silence into advocacy and grief into movement for legal change. At the heart of this movement stands the Statue of Peace, a powerful symbol of remembrance and the relentless pursuit of historical justice. This platform honors their experiences and amplifies the call to confront wartime sexual violence everywhere.

Today, women’s movements worldwide are shaping legislation, challenging impunity for sexual violence, and demanding recognition, redress, and equality for survivors. From the grassroots to the halls of the United Nations, their voices are influencing laws and policies that protect human rights. In this blog post, we explore how the legacy of the comfort women has become part of a broader, vibrant tapestry of women’s activism shaping global legislation around sexual violence, gender equality, and justice.

The Legacy of "Comfort Women" and the Demand for Justice

For decades, the voices of the comfort women were marginalized, their suffering hidden by social stigma and official silence. It was only in the 1990s—over fifty years after the end of World War II—that survivors bravely spoke out, demanding formal apology, compensation, and recognition from the Japanese government.

Their activism led to worldwide solidarity campaigns and the installation of Statues of Peace—vivid reminders of history, resilience, and the necessity of facing past atrocities to build a just future. These statues and the stories they commemorate transcended borders, inspiring women’s rights groups throughout Asia and beyond. The movement embodied the critical principle that memory is a form of resistance—and a powerful catalyst for legal and societal change.

The comfort women’s pursuit of justice highlighted systemic failures in international law to protect women from wartime sexual violence. Their testimony at global forums, including the United Nations, amplified calls for clear definitions of sexual slavery, accountability for perpetrators, and comprehensive reparations for survivors. Their cause became a rallying point for the global women’s movement, encouraging legislative reforms and international treaties addressing sexual violence in conflict.

Women’s Movements and the Transformation of Global Legislation

The example of the comfort women has inspired a new era of activism, emphasizing the relationship between remembrance, advocacy, and legal transformation. Today, women’s movements are pivotal in shaping local and global legislation around sexual violence, gender-based discrimination, and historical justice.

1. Strengthening International Laws Against Wartime Sexual Violence

Women’s rights advocates have been at the forefront of pressing for robust international statutes to recognize and prosecute sexual violence as a war crime. This resulted in landmark changes, such as the inclusion of sexual slavery and rape as crimes against humanity and war crimes under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC). Testimonies from comfort women contributed significant evidence and moral urgency to the negotiations and the eventual adoption of these standards.

International advocacy networks, such as the UN Women and the Women, Peace and Security Agenda, continue to empower survivors and demand fair investigations and prosecutions of sexual violence in conflict zones. The passing of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 was a historic milestone, influenced by generations of activism emanating from cases like the comfort women.

2. National Legal Reforms and Truth Commissions

National legislatures have responded to women’s movements by enacting laws aimed at preventing, prosecuting, and redressing gender-based violence. In South Korea, grassroots activism by comfort women survivors led to the establishment of the Wednesday Demonstrations in front of the Japanese Embassy, sparking the installation of the first Statue of Peace in 2011 and laying groundwork for reparations advocacy.

Public pressure spurred legislation dedicated to supporting survivors and documenting their testimonies for future generations, empowering other nations to pursue similar measures. Truth and reconciliation commissions in countries including Guatemala, Sierra Leone, and South Africa have drawn on this tradition to investigate sexual violence in conflict and recommend survivor-centered reforms and reparations.

3. The Global Movement Against Gender-Based Violence

The symbolism of the Statue of Peace resonates far beyond the history of the comfort women. It stands shoulder-to-shoulder with global movements like #MeToo, which exposed the universality of sexual violence and underscored the urgency of comprehensive legislative change. These movements pressure governments to close legal loopholes, end statutes of limitation for sexual crimes, and improve survivor access to justice and support.

In recent years, collective advocacy has influenced legislative progress like the Istanbul Convention in Europe, which mandates prevention, protection, prosecution, and integrated policies against gender-based violence. Women’s organizations were vital to the drafting, promotion, and adoption of this and similar conventions worldwide.

4. Education, Remembrance, and Policy Solutions

One of the most powerful ways women’s movements are shaping legislation is by transforming how societies remember and educate. The installation of memorials, like the Statue of Peace, is not only an act of commemoration—it’s a forceful reminder that remembrance fuels the demand for policy and legislative change.

Initiatives to include the history of comfort women in school curricula, museums, and public discussions are empowering new generations. This ensures ongoing vigilance and activism against all forms of sexual exploitation. As activist Kim Bok-dong—a comfort woman survivor and champion for justice—declared: “We are not here because we want to receive compensation… But so that no more wars will break out, and so that any woman in the world should never suffer as we did.”

Women-led NGOs and survivor networks have developed policy recommendations, draft bills, and model legislation based on consultation with survivors. These community-driven documents are increasingly reflected in international and national legal frameworks.

Conclusion: Remembrance as Catalyst—Toward a Future of Justice and Equality

The struggle for recognition and justice by comfort women survivors transformed their personal experiences into a powerful force for legislative and social change. Their courage paved the way for modern women’s movements, which continue to shape laws and policies in pursuit of a world free from gender-based violence and discrimination.

The Statue of Peace stands not only as a solemn reminder of the past but also as a beacon for the future—a testament to the impact of remembrance, advocacy, and legal action. It calls on policymakers, educators, and communities to confront the legacy of wartime sexual violence and to advance reforms that ensure accountability, support for survivors, and meaningful prevention.

By honoring the comfort women and supporting the women’s movement worldwide, we help transform memory into justice—and justice into transformative legislation that safeguards human rights for all. In working together, we can ensure that no one’s pain is silenced and that every survivor has a voice that shapes the world for generations to come.

Let the Symbol of Peace inspire us to build a future where justice, remembrance, and women’s rights are upheld everywhere.