As the world marks the 13th International Comfort Women Memorial Day, dwindling survivor numbers amplify calls for justice. This year’s observance coincides with the 80th anniversary of the World Anti-Fascist War victory, reigniting global attention on one of history’s darkest chapters.
Why August 14?
Established in 2012 by activists across Asia, the date honors victims of Japan’s WWII-era military sexual slavery system. Over 400,000 women – half from the Chinese mainland – were forcibly exploited as 'comfort women,' a term activists reject as euphemistic.
The Race Against Time
With only seven survivors left in South Korea and seven registered on the Chinese mainland, advocates warn: "History fades as survivors pass," says Choi Ye-ji, a Seoul protester. Recent rains couldn’t deter crowds at the Japanese embassy, where 97-year-old survivor Lee Yong-soo tearfully thanked supporters.
Education as Armor
Shin Hei-soo of Korea’s UN Human Rights Policy Center stresses: "Museums and protests keep memory alive for Gen Z. Without action, textbooks might erase this." From viral TikTok explainers to school workshops, new strategies aim to make #ComfortWomenHistory trend globally.
As flowers pile at memorials from Seoul to Shanghai, one message echoes: Justice delayed can’t become justice denied. 🌍💔
