WIWCT

The Women’s International War Crimes Tribunal (WIWCT) for the Trial of Japan’s Military Sexual Slavery during the Second World War was convened as an addendum to the International Military Tribunal for the Far East (IMTFE). This groundbreaking tribunal established a critical precedent, that crimes against women in times of war must be prosecuted and survivors entitled to compensation and reparations. The WIWCT was made possible by Asian transnational feminist movement, that mobilized ten countries namely South Korean, North Korea, the Philippines, Japan, China, Indonesia, East Timor, Taiwan, Malaysia, and the Netherlands, to challenge the government of Japan for the war crimes committed against the Comfort Women. This movement paved the way for individuals to pursue legal claims in national and international courts. 

The WIWCT was organized ‘In the matter of the Prosecutors and the Peoples of the Asia-Pacific Region vs. Emperor Hirohito et al. and the Government of Japan’ in December 2000. As the Judgment stated: ‘The Women's International War Crimes Tribunal was established as a result of the historical failure of states to discharge their responsibility to ensure justice for such crimes. It is an addendum to the International Military Tribunal for the Far East, April 1946 - November 1948 (IMTFE), established by the Allied powers at the end of WWII. Despite overwhelming evidence of the 'comfort women' system, rape and mass rape, the Allies failed to prosecute Japanese officials for these crimes. That a court (IMTFE), especially an internationally constituted court, could ignore a systematic atrocity of this dimension is unacceptable. But the primary responsibility lies with the state of Japan for its actions and subsequent failure to prosecute, apologize and provide reparations and other meaningful remedies to the former 'comfort women' for over half a century.’(4 & 5)[1] Paragraph 4 & 5 are legal extracts from the Judgement of the Women’s International War Crimes Tribunal.

The WIWCT hearings was held in Tokyo from December 8 to 12, 2000 and the Judgment on the Common Indictment and the Application for Restitution and Reparation was delivered in The Hague on December 4, 2001.