'Time's running out': Gov't urged to speed up reparations for surviving 'comfort women' | ABS-CBN
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'Time's running out': Gov't urged to speed up reparations for surviving 'comfort women'
'Time's running out': Gov't urged to speed up reparations for surviving 'comfort women'
Jauhn Etienne Villaruel,
ABS-CBN News
Published Jul 03, 2024 03:21 PM PHT
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Updated Jul 04, 2024 01:02 AM PHT
Sen. Risa Hontiveros reiterated her call for 'just and meaningful' reparations for Filipino comfort women and their families. Office of Sen. Risa Hontiveros.MANILA — The Philippine government is "running out of time" to provide "meaningful reparations" for the Filipina victims of sexual slavery during the Japanese occupation, Sen. Risa Hontiveros said, noting that only a handful of so-called comfort women remains alive.
Sen. Risa Hontiveros reiterated her call for 'just and meaningful' reparations for Filipino comfort women and their families. Office of Sen. Risa Hontiveros.MANILA — The Philippine government is "running out of time" to provide "meaningful reparations" for the Filipina victims of sexual slavery during the Japanese occupation, Sen. Risa Hontiveros said, noting that only a handful of so-called comfort women remains alive. "They cannot wait any longer... President Marcos and the entire administration must make good on their promise to extend aid and assistance to them," said Hontiveros.
"They cannot wait any longer... President Marcos and the entire administration must make good on their promise to extend aid and assistance to them," said Hontiveros.
"Hindi dapat hayaan ng ating gobyerno na pumanaw sila nang hindi nakakamtan ang hustisya para sa kanila," she added.
"Hindi dapat hayaan ng ating gobyerno na pumanaw sila nang hindi nakakamtan ang hustisya para sa kanila," she added.
(The government should not wait for them to die before they deliver justice for these comfort women.)
(The government should not wait for them to die before they deliver justice for these comfort women.)
Sen. Risa Hontiveros visits Bahay na Pula, which was used by the Japanese Imperial Army to abuse Filipino women. Office of Sen. Risa Hontiveros
Sen. Risa Hontiveros visits Bahay na Pula, which was used by the Japanese Imperial Army to abuse Filipino women. Office of Sen. Risa HontiverosHontiveros made the appeal following her visit to Bahay na Pula (Red House), which was used by the Japanese Imperial Army to abuse Filipino women. The senator called on the government to restore Bahay na Pula and turn it into a wartime memorial site.
Hontiveros made the appeal following her visit to Bahay na Pula (Red House), which was used by the Japanese Imperial Army to abuse Filipino women. The senator called on the government to restore Bahay na Pula and turn it into a wartime memorial site.
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The girls sexually abused inside the Bahay na Pula are now part of the group Malaya Lolas, fighting for recognition and compensation since its foundation in 1997.
The girls sexually abused inside the Bahay na Pula are now part of the group Malaya Lolas, fighting for recognition and compensation since its foundation in 1997.
Hontiveros also had a meeting with the Malaya Lolas.
Hontiveros also had a meeting with the Malaya Lolas.
“Labing-walo na lang ang natitirang Malaya Lolas (Only 18 Malaya Lolas are alive)," she said.
“Labing-walo na lang ang natitirang Malaya Lolas (Only 18 Malaya Lolas are alive)," she said.
Malaya Lolas was the group that filed a complaint before the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), which ruled in 2023 that the "Philippines violated the rights of [Filipina comfort women] by failing to provide reparation, social support and recognition commensurate with the harm suffered."
Malaya Lolas was the group that filed a complaint before the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), which ruled in 2023 that the "Philippines violated the rights of [Filipina comfort women] by failing to provide reparation, social support and recognition commensurate with the harm suffered."
In response, Malacañang had said it would "study and submit a written response" to the UN panel, but noted that "some reparations have been made and the Supreme Court has adjudicated on the matter."
In response, Malacañang had said it would "study and submit a written response" to the UN panel, but noted that "some reparations have been made and the Supreme Court has adjudicated on the matter."
President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. also addressed the UN panel findings and ordered "relevant Government agencies to look into how we can appropriately address the concerns of the Malaya Lolas."
President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. also addressed the UN panel findings and ordered "relevant Government agencies to look into how we can appropriately address the concerns of the Malaya Lolas."
In May this year, Sen. Imee Marcos created a technical working group to identify "all obligations and corresponding funding sources so that the remaining surviving 18 Malaya Lolas shall receive the reparations" in compliance with the UN panel ruling.
In May this year, Sen. Imee Marcos created a technical working group to identify "all obligations and corresponding funding sources so that the remaining surviving 18 Malaya Lolas shall receive the reparations" in compliance with the UN panel ruling.
An estimated 1,000 Filipino women served as comfort women during the 1941-1945 occupation.
An estimated 1,000 Filipino women served as comfort women during the 1941-1945 occupation.
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