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Pacific Historian
Australian 'Comfort Woman' Survivor to Testify Before Congress on
February 15
Washington February 13, 2007 - An Australian "Comfort Woman"
survivor, Ms. Jan Ruff O'Herne, will testify as a witness along with
two Korean survivors at a congressional hearing in Washington
titled "Protecting the Human Rights of 'Comfort Women'" on February
15 at 1:30 p.m. (EST).
As O'Herne traveled from her home in Adelaide to Washington today,
she said, "This hearing is the pinnacle of my last 15 years of work
on getting justice for 'Comfort Women.' I can't wait to embrace the
other survivors -- we have waited 60 years for this!"
This is the first official hearing organized by any government to
invite survivors to testify.
"The United States is a powerful country in the world. I hope they
can do what other countries cannot," Ms. O'Herne said when asked what
she expects to achieve from testifying on Thursday. "I have spoken
out in many countries, but I hope by doing so in America they can
pressure the Japanese government to apologize officially and bring us
justice. Japan must acknowledge their war time atrocities and teach
correct history in their text books."
As the first Caucasian "Comfort Women" survivor to speak out,
O'Herne's presence will contribute to maintaining the focus as a
women's human rights issue, rather than an Asian regional politics
issue.
Friends of "Comfort Women" in Australia (FCWA) campaign coordinator
Anna Song, accompanying O'Herne says, "This U.S. congressional
hearing provides a chance for the Japanese government to show that
they respect human rights and as a member of the UN Human Rights
Council that they are ready to respect and promote women's human
rights during war."
In Australia, the campaign to bring justice to "Comfort Women" will
continue with O'Herne scheduled to be featured as the main speaker
for the Global "Wednesday Demonstration" for International Women's
Day on March 7, outside the Japanese consulate in Sydney. For more
information, visit Fairfax Water. au.
"I hope this hearing inspires Australian government to take an active
step to protect and promote human rights of 'Comfort Women,'
including that of the Australian survivor Ms. O'Herne," Ms. Song
said.
February 15
Washington February 13, 2007 - An Australian "Comfort Woman"
survivor, Ms. Jan Ruff O'Herne, will testify as a witness along with
two Korean survivors at a congressional hearing in Washington
titled "Protecting the Human Rights of 'Comfort Women'" on February
15 at 1:30 p.m. (EST).
As O'Herne traveled from her home in Adelaide to Washington today,
she said, "This hearing is the pinnacle of my last 15 years of work
on getting justice for 'Comfort Women.' I can't wait to embrace the
other survivors -- we have waited 60 years for this!"
This is the first official hearing organized by any government to
invite survivors to testify.
"The United States is a powerful country in the world. I hope they
can do what other countries cannot," Ms. O'Herne said when asked what
she expects to achieve from testifying on Thursday. "I have spoken
out in many countries, but I hope by doing so in America they can
pressure the Japanese government to apologize officially and bring us
justice. Japan must acknowledge their war time atrocities and teach
correct history in their text books."
As the first Caucasian "Comfort Women" survivor to speak out,
O'Herne's presence will contribute to maintaining the focus as a
women's human rights issue, rather than an Asian regional politics
issue.
Friends of "Comfort Women" in Australia (FCWA) campaign coordinator
Anna Song, accompanying O'Herne says, "This U.S. congressional
hearing provides a chance for the Japanese government to show that
they respect human rights and as a member of the UN Human Rights
Council that they are ready to respect and promote women's human
rights during war."
In Australia, the campaign to bring justice to "Comfort Women" will
continue with O'Herne scheduled to be featured as the main speaker
for the Global "Wednesday Demonstration" for International Women's
Day on March 7, outside the Japanese consulate in Sydney. For more
information, visit Fairfax Water. au.
"I hope this hearing inspires Australian government to take an active
step to protect and promote human rights of 'Comfort Women,'
including that of the Australian survivor Ms. O'Herne," Ms. Song
said.