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NOW Membership Vice President Karen Johnson to Speak at Rally for Justice for Survivors of World War II Sexual Slavery

July 18, 2001

"Feminists and other human rights advocates are demanding justice for survivors of sexual slavery in Japan during World War II," said National Organization for Women (NOW) Membership Vice President Karen Johnson. "NOW and other groups are calling for the U.S. State Department to withdraw its Statement of Interest in the dismissal of a historic class action lawsuit filed by so-called comfort women against the Japanese government."

What: Justice for Former "Comfort Women" Protest
When: Monday, July 23
12 Noon
Where:  U.S. Department of State
22nd and C Streets, N.W.
Washington, D.C.

"The International War Crimes Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia convicted three military men of crimes against humanity for the systematic rape of women for the first time in history," Johnson said. "The Japanese government should be held to the same charges for its military's torture, abuse and forced sexual slavery of over 200,000 women abducted from a number of Asian countries (80 percent from  Korea) during the Second World War. And the U.S. State Department should strive to uphold human rights internationally, rather than turning a blind eye when business, trade and financial matters are involved."

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