Ökumenischer Rat der Kirchen, Zentralausschuss, 2.-9.7.2014 in Genf

Statement on the Re-interpretation of Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution

07 July 2014

If we want to survive, let there be no more war! It destroys people like me; children, youth, women, everybody.
– Ms Gil Won Ok, 87 years old, one of the last surviving representatives of the Korean “Comfort Women”.

The 1947 Japanese Constitution has been hailed around the world for many decades as a “Peace Constitution”. Article 9 is an apology for the military dominance and aggression of Japan in the 20thcentury, and the aspiration for a democratic state striving for lasting peace. Indeed, its Article 9 is a forward-looking pacifist clause that prohibits an act of war by the state. According to Article 9, the state renounces war as a sovereign right, rejects settlement of international disputes through the use of force and does not allow for armed forces to wage war.
Lesen Sie bitte die ganze Erklärung hier (Englisch und Japanisch)