"Trostfrauen" - Comfort Women
12.12.2020
Women’s International War Crimes Tribunal 20th Anniversary Online Symposium

From 2000 Women's International War Crimes Tribunal to Korean #MeToo Movement to Punish Sexual Violence

Lee, Na-Young
(Chair of Board of The Korean Council for Justice and Remembrance for the Issues of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan, Professor of Sociology at Chung-Ang University)

1. Introduction
The final judgment of the 2000 Women’s International War Crimes Tribunal (2000 Tribunal) states the background of the Tribunal as follows: “The findings of the Tribunal are intended to contribute to the proper attribution of responsibility for the crimes, placing it upon the perpetrators and not the victims of the crimes of sexual violence, and, thereby, to assist in changing worldwide patterns of sexual stereotyping which continue to subjugate women in contemporary society.”

Then, how has Korea resonated and practiced the lessons of 2000 Tribunal? How have we fought for punishment of perpetrators, protection of victims and restoration of honor, and fought against the misogynist structure that is the root of gender stereotypes? Specifically, through what activities did we aim to achieve cultural transformation? This article aims to reflect on the progress of sexual violence-related campaigns, practices, and legalization since 2000, from the perspective of Korean women’s movement history. Attending to the Korean women’s practices that have established the foundation of an unprecedented movement in solidarity and inherited its meanings, I plan to reflect on the history of the movement for resolution of the Japanese military sexual slavery issue and to navigate its future directions.

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