It was an international civil tribunal held from December 8 to 12, 2000, at the Kudan Kaikan in Tokyo, Japan. It was organized in solidarity with Japan and other Asian countries affected by the Japanese Military “Comfort Women” system, as well as global women’s organizations. The tribunal was convened to criticize the fact that the Japanese Military “Comfort Women” issue was not properly addressed by the International Military Tribunal for the Far East (IMTFE), which was held by the Allied powers after World War II to hold Japan accountable for its wartime actions. Additionally, it sought to hold those responsible accountable through the collective efforts of victims and citizens from across Asia. After three days of hearings, the tribunal’s panel of judges issued a preliminary verdict, finding Emperor Shōwa and nine other military and political leaders, including Hideki Tojo, guilty. This preliminary verdict laid the foundation for the final judgment delivered in December 2001 in The Hague, Netherlands, where Emperor Shōwa was found guilty. The final judgment urged the Japanese government to uncover the truth, formally apologize, and compensate the victims. Although the tribunal lacked legal enforcement power, its significance lies in its role in bringing the Japanese Military “Comfort Women” issue to the court through international solidarity and collective citizen efforts and in establishing the need to condemn wartime violence against women from the perspective of women’s rights and peace.
The Women’s International War Crimes Tribunal on the Trial of Japan’s Military Sexual Slavery in 2000 refers to an international peoples' tribunal held at Kudan Kaikan Hall in Tokyo, Japan from December 8~12, 2000, with a coalition of the Japanese Military 'Comfort Women' victims from Japan, Asia, and women's organizations around the world. The aim was to criticize the fact that the Japanese Military 'Comfort Women' issue was not properly addressed in the International Military Tribunal for the Far East (IMTFE) organized by the Allied Powers to hold Japan responsible for war after World War II, and to punish those responsible by the power of victims and citizens from each of the affected Asian countries. After a three-day hearing, the court's panel issued a preliminary judgment convicting Emperor Hirohito, Tōjō Hideki, and nine other military and political leaders. Based on this, the final judgment in December 2001 in the Hague, Netherlands, convicted Emperor Hirohito, and recommended the Japanese government to investigate the truth, to apologize, to compensate the victims, and so on. Although it was not legally binding, the tribunal was of great significance as it brought the Japanese Military 'Comfort Women' issue to court through the international solidarity and established the need to punish violence against women during wartime from the perspective of women's human rights and peace.
The Women’s International War Crimes Tribunal on the Trial of Japan’s Military Sexual Slavery in 2000 refers to an international peoples' tribunal held at Kudan Kaikan Hall in Tokyo, Japan from December 8~12, 2000, with a coalition of the Japanese Military 'Comfort Women' victims from Japan, Asia, and women's organizations around the world. The aim was to criticize the fact that the Japanese Military 'Comfort Women' issue was not properly addressed in the International Military Tribunal for the Far East (IMTFE) organized by the Allied Powers to hold Japan responsible for war after World War II, and to punish those responsible by the power of victims and citizens from each of the affected Asian countries. After a three-day hearing, the court's panel issued a preliminary judgment convicting Emperor Hirohito, Tōjō Hideki, and nine other military and political leaders. Based on this, the final judgment in December 2001 in the Hague, Netherlands, convicted Emperor Hirohito, and recommended the Japanese government to investigate the truth, to apologize, to compensate the victims, and so on. Although it was not legally binding, the tribunal was of great significance as it brought the Japanese Military 'Comfort Women' issue to court through the international solidarity and established the need to punish violence against women during wartime from the perspective of women's human rights and peace.
The Women’s International War Crimes Tribunal on Japanese Military Sexual Slavery was a private People’s Tribunal held at the Kudan Kaikan Hall in Tokyo, Japan, from December 8 to 12, 2000, in solidarity with countries across Asia victimized by the Japanese Military “Comfort Women” system and with women’s organizations worldwide. The tribunal criticized the failure of the Allied-led International Military Tribunal for the Far East to adequately address the issue after World War II and sought to hold perpetrators accountable through the collective efforts of victims and citizens across Asia. After three days of hearings, the panel of judges issued a preliminary verdict convicting nine military and political leaders, including Emperor Hirohito and Prime Minister Hideki Tojo. Building on this, in December 2001, the tribunal delivered a final judgment in The Hague, Netherlands, convicting Emperor Hirohito and recommending that the Japanese government investigate the truth, issue an official apology, and provide reparations to victims. Although the tribunal lacked binding legal authority, it carried profound significance in that it brought the issue of Japanese Military “Comfort Women” to court through international solidarity and citizen power and established the necessity of condemning wartime violence against women from the perspective of women’s rights and peace.
Leopolis for Future is a Polish-based organization that offers internships to university students in Lviv, providing them with opportunities to gain international experience. In December 2023, in collaboration with the Ukrainian Ambassador to the United Nations and other international organizations in Geneva, it hosted a charity auction in support of SEMA Ukraine. (https://leopolisforfuture.org/leopolis-for-future-for-sema-ukraine/)
전쟁 후 네덜란드는 전범재판을 위한 바타비아 임시군사재판(Temporaire Krijgsraad in Batavia)을 실시하였는데, 이 재판은 전쟁 중 행해진 성폭력과 일본군‘위안부’ 관련 사건을 다루고 있어 중요한 가치를 지닌다.
국제사회는 오랫동안 여성에 대한 성폭력 문제에 소극적이었다. 전쟁 중 벌어지는 성폭력 문제는 전쟁의 부산물로 간주되곤 했으며, 식민체제 하의 여성인권은 ‘피식민’과 ‘여성’이라는 이중적 ‘타자’의 위치에서 무시되고 침묵되었다.
[2000년 여성법정 20주년 특집] 웹진 <결>에서는 2000년 여성법정 20주년을 맞아, '아카이브814'에 등록된 2000년 여성법정 관련 기록물을 법정이 진행된 시간순으로 정리하여 소개한다.
우리는 시민단체로서 국제기구 외부에서 활동하며, 법치와 자유민주주의를 위해 싸우는 것이 중요하다고 생각합니다.
국제연대위원회는 유네스코 세계기록유산 등재 원칙과 비전을 부당한 권력으로부터 지킬 수 있도록 관련 활동과 압력을 멈추지 않을 것이다.
“젠더 불평등과 젠더 불공정은 인권 침해와 다를 바 없습니다. 여성과 아동에 대한 폭력이 계속된다면 우리의 현재와 미래는 위험에서 벗어날 수 없음을 깨달아야 합니다.”
“여전히 우리 앞에 놓인 거대한 과제는 정의와 인권, 특히 젠더 정의와 젠더 인권 보호를 위한 지속적이고 일관된 투쟁입니다.”
‘위안부’ 여성들과 콜라보 자매들이 보여준 용기는 소녀들이 덫에서 벗어나 학대와 성 착취라는 더 넓은 역사적 시각으로 자신의 경험을 바라볼 수 있게 해주었다.