Government to study UN panel’s view on comfort women issue

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang yesterday vowed to study the findings of the United Nations women’s rights committee stating that the Philippines has violated the rights of sexual slavery victims during World War II by failing to provide reparation, even as it claimed that some reparations have been made.

“The government of the Philippines recognizes the suffering of female victims of atrocious violations that occurred during the Second World War. In this regard, we note that some reparations have been made, and the Supreme Court has adjudicated on the matter,” the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said in a statement.

“We will study the views of the committee and submit a written response to the committee within the time frame of six months, as provided for under the Optional Protocol to the CEDAW (Committee on the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women),” the PCO added.

Noting the views of the CEDAW, the PCO said the Philippine government “remains fully committed to women’s rights pursuant to its international human rights obligations and national laws and jurisprudence.”

The committee’s decision dated March 8 was made in response to a complaint filed by 24 members of the Malaya Lolas (free grandmothers), a non-profit group formed to provide support to sexual slavery survivors.

The sexual slavery victims, or “comfort women,” had asked the Philippine government to support their claims against Japan for reparations for their sufferings during the World War II.

They claimed that the Philippines’ failure to fight for their cause had essentially resulted in the ongoing discrimination against them.

“The committee observed that the Philippine Commission on Women had not addressed the institutionalized system of wartime sexual slavery, its consequences for victims and survivors or their protection needs,” the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) said in a statement.

“In contrast, Philippine war veterans, who are mostly men, are entitled to special and esteemed treatment from the government, such as educational benefits, health care benefits, old age, disability and death pensions,” the UNOHCHR added.

The CEDAW said the Philippines had breached its obligations under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.

It added that the Philippine government had failed to adopt appropriate legislative and other measures to prohibit all discrimination against women and protect women’s rights on an equal basis with men.

“The committee requested that the Philippines provide the victims full reparation, including material compensation and an official apology for the continuing discrimination,” the UNOHCHR said.