The Public Hearing of Crimes Against Women in Recent Wars and Conflicts immediately following the three
daysof the Tokyo Tribunal proceedings and one day before the Tribunal's judgment is an occasion to demonstrate
thatthe crimes against the former "comfort women" during WWII were not isolated incidents specific to that war.
Battles are increasingly fought over women's bodies and women continue to be used as war weapons as well
aswar booty. The Public Hearing is an occasion to show how the lack of accountability for crimes already
committed results in the unabated continuation of such crimes.
At the Public Hearing, women will present testimonies of the crimes committed against them in war and conflict
situations in places such as Chiapas, Colombia, Guatemala, Algeria, Sierra Leone, UN Peacekeeping in
Somalia, Kosovo, the United States, Palestine, Afghanistan, Burma, Burundi, Vietnam, East Timor, and
Okinawa. Expert commentaries by Suzuyo Takazato, Co-Chairperson of Okinawa Women Act Against Military
Violence from Japan and Hameeda Hossain, Research Director of Ain 0 Salish Kendro from Bangladesh, will
integrate and supplement the testimonies. Radhika Coomaraswamy, the United Nations'Special Rapporteur
on Violence Against Women will present her mandates in closing the hearing.
In presenting how the violations have continued and escalated to today, the public hearing aims to identify some
of the themes common to many conflicts that have been realized after a series of consultative meetings that was
held among women's human rights groups, peace networks and legal advocates. The themes include:
Conflicts/violations resulting from extremism. Many countries are in situations of war, conflict and unrest as
a result of rise of the power and stranglehold of states, groups and organizations that profess extreme ideologies
based on nationalism, ethnicity, religion, race, and social marginalization, which take violent forms and terrorize
communities.
Conflicts/violations resulting from militarism: Aggression, invasion, state repression, military or other kinds
of occupation and foreign policy of powerful countries are the source of conflicts in many countries around the
world today. In the process, fundamental rights of peoples, particularly women, are violated.
Resource-based conflicts/violations: Access and dispute over resources have been the root cause of wars
and conflicts. Disputes over land, natural resources, borders, territories, water, natural resources have intensified
in many countries and their communities.
Violations during post-conflict and the lasting impacts in the event of non-resolution of conflicts on peace
and reconstruction: Women are often ignored or marginalized during the peace process and in the subsequent
efforts of reconstruction and rehabilitation. Many forms of violence against women take place as accountability
often is not ensured during this phase.
The hearing will not present only the painful experiences of women who have been victimized by war but will
also provide a forum to talk about the initiatives in each of these places to rise and fight back to demand justice.
The Public Hearing will highlight the continuing and emerging work of women around the world for
genuine justice, peace and end to impunity.
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