The Japanese Military “Comfort Women” and the Multilayeredness of Coercion

How has our understanding of “coercion” in forced labor and the Japanese military “Comfort Women” system changed over time? This essay examines the multilayered nature of these issues, moving beyond nationalist narratives and historical denialism toward a broader understanding through the lens of universal human rights.

• 2026-10-13
• Jie-Hyun Lim

A World Free from Exploitation

In this conversation, Freedom United Executive Director Joanna Ewart-James and Kyeol examine how modern slavery is sustained by social and institutional systems, how collective action can drive meaningful change, and how historical awareness can deepen our understanding of injustices that persist today.

• 2026-07-16
• Joanna Ewart-James

Navigating Memory Wars: A Research Journey Through the Politics of "Comfort Women" Commemoration

The spread of “Comfort Women” memorials across different cities and countries offers insights into both possibilities and the limits of memory activism, especially in an era when the world continues to confront the legacies of colonialism, racism, and historical injustice.

• 2026-05-20
• Dr. Daniel Schumacher

Reflecting on the “Comfort Women” Issue Through the Framework of Women’s Human Rights

This article examines the Japanese military “comfort women” issue through the lens of women’s human rights, extending the discussion to structural violence against women, social exclusion, and economic inequality. It further calls for victim-centered social restructuring and redistribution.

• 2026-09-29
• Joohee Kim

Law, Myth, and the Long Work of Reform

Drawing on legal reforms across different countries and cultural contexts, the author, a legal scholar, examines how rape myths continue to shape sexual assault laws and legal outcomes and proposes measures for reform.

• 2026-09-11
• Ramona Albin