Representatives of former Chinese "comfort women" of the Japanese army during the World War II left Shanghai for Tokyo Wednesday to attend the open session of the Women's International War Crimes Tribunal (WIWCT), which will begin on December 8.
During World War II, the Japanese army recruited women of Asian countries as sex slaves of the army, and according to estimates, at least 400,000 Asian women were forced to become "comfort women." China, with a total number of 200,000 and hundreds of "comfort stations" spreading throughout its 22 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions, stood as the biggest sufferer.
The WIWCT is a non-government tribunal jointly sponsored by women's organizations or human rights groups in Asian countries.
Three Chinese victims of the Japanese sex slavery will file a lawsuit against the Japanese government during the tribunal sitting.
(Xinhua 12/06/2000)
