Comfort Women Resolution, Taiwan

On November 11, the Legislative Yuan passed the “Taiwan Comfort Women Resolution.” The resolution demands that the Japanese government admit it had forced Taiwanese women into sexual slavery at Japanese military brothels during World War II. It also demands that the Japanese government take responsibility and compensate the victims. The document brings a ray of hope to the comfort women following their 17 years of protests.

Ninety-two year old Wu Xiu-mei endorses the Taiwan Comfort Women Resolution. She is the eldest surviving comfort woman in Taiwan. She says she is thrilled that the government is finally on their side and is taking action after their 17 years of protests.

“I'm grateful and happy that the legislators stood by our side and that the government is helping us.” Wu Xiu-mei said.

The bipartisan resolution in Taiwan demands the Japanese government admit and take responsibility for its role in forcing women into sexual slavery for Japanese military brothels during World War II. It also demands compensation for the victims.

“Regardless of their party affiliations, the lawmakers passed the resolution at the historic moment of 9:54 a.m. on November 11.” Chen Shu-li, Director of Taipei Women's Rescue Foundation said. “We were thrilled to hear Wang Jin-ping, the president of the Legislative Yuan, read the resolution out loud.”

Taipei Women's Rescue Foundation says they hope the Ministry of Education will include the experience of these comfort women in school textbooks in the future to help strengthen human rights education.

Comfort women is a euphemism for women forced into sexual slavery and involved in prostitution for Japanese military brothels during World War II. Around 200,000 are typically estimated to have been procured, but the disagreement about exact numbers is still being researched and debated. It was said that the majority of the victims were from Asian countries including China, Korea and Taiwan, and some Japanese-occupied territories were also used as "comfort stations".