| Latin American Workshop in the Context of the Project «Feminicide and Implementation of UNSCR 1325» |
| 01.03.2009, Buenos Aires (Argentina) |
| After hearing stories of violence against women from PeaceWomen, the participants have become motivated to organize a Women’s Tribunal Against Sexual Violence in Latin America. |
During the Latin American Workshop, held within the context of the project: «Feminicide and Implementation of UNSCR 1325», participants shared stories of violence against women. Hilaria Supa, a PeaceWoman from Perú, told of the great number of women in her country, particularly indigenous women, who have been victims of forced sterilization during Fujimori’s rule. Unfortunately, the perpetrators of these crimes remain unpunished.
Inspired by the success of the Women’s International War Crimes Tribunal on Japan’s Military Sexual Slavery (see more information below), the participants decided to organize a similar tribunal for Latin America. This tribunal is not only relevant in Peru, but also in other countries where women have been victims of sexual violence and impunity has occurred. Similarly to the Japanese Tribunal, the Latin American Tribunal will not be an international tribunal; instead it will be similar to «Comisiones de la Verdad» (Truth Commission) or «Comisión de Expertos» (Experts Commission).
In their own words: «As members of the international community we cannot remain silent! We know that peace is not possible without a response to the cries of these women who have been victims of sexual crimes, as it occurred in Peru».
The project: «Feminicide and Implementation of UNSCR 1325» is a part of PeaceWomen Across the Globe's new program: «Redefining Peace – Women Lead the Way».
The Women’s International War Crimes Tribunal on Japan’s Military Sexual Slavery:
In 1998, a group of Japanese women who felt responsible for the crimes Japan committed against women (who are known as the «comfort women») during the Second World War, proposed the creation of the Japanese Tribunal. The Japanese Tribunal was held in Tokyo from December 8th to December 12th, 2000.
The Japanese Tribunal was not an international tribunal, since it was not created by an international treaty (as was the case with Nuremberg or recently, with the International Criminal Court) or by a UN Security Council Resolution. Four legal experts on international law and human rights were appointed as judges.
Women from all over the world, such as Timor Leste, Bangladesh, the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda, who were victims of sexual violence, participated in the tribunal. Additionally, two former members of the Japanese military, who were stationed in China, also gave testimony as perpetrators.
The Common Indictment prosecuted both individual and the Japanese government itself for crimes against humanity. The presiding judge stated in the conclusion that «the Tribunal finds the accused Emperor Hirohito guilty of responsibility for rape and sexual slavery as a crime against humanity and the judges determine that the government of Japan has incurred state responsibility for its establishment and maintenance of the comfort system».
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