halmoni

In a speech, Jude Lee from the House of Sharing called for the punishment of surviving war criminals, compensation for the halmoni, and education to prevent the recurrence of gender-based crimes in Asia and other regions of the world.

Michael Solis: Surviving "Comfort Women" Rally at 900th Protest 2010

Angela Lytle, a volunteer at the House of Sharing and a feminist research associate at the Centre for Women's Studies in Education at the University of Toronto, offered her words of encouragement and admiration to the halmoni during the demonstration.

Michael Solis: Surviving "Comfort Women" Rally at 900th Protest 2010

Hiromi Ui, a Japanese woman in attendance, protests weekly with the halmoni and volunteers at the House of Sharing, a home for 9 of the surviving comfort women.

Michael Solis: Surviving "Comfort Women" Rally at 900th Protest 2010

In 2009, five halmoni passed away without receiving a direct, formal apology or reparations.

Michael Solis: Surviving "Comfort Women" Rally at 900th Protest 2010

Another halmoni, Kang-Il Chul, was abducted at the age of 16 and was forced to serve in a comfort station in Manchuria.

Michael Solis: Surviving "Comfort Women" Rally at 900th Protest 2010

The aspiration of Lytle and so many of the halmoni's supporters is that Japan's stance will shift before the remaining halmoni pass away with their wishes for justice unrealized and their hopes for humanity shattered.

Michael Solis: Surviving "Comfort Women" Rally at 900th Protest 2010

Also in attendance were representatives from Amnesty International, the Korean Women's Association United, the House of Sharing, and people from Korea, Japan, and other nations who came to lend support to the halmoni.

Michael Solis: Surviving "Comfort Women" Rally at 900th Protest 2010

The women (or halmoni, the word for grandmother in Korean, as the woman are euphemistically called) have been protesting every Wednesday since Jan. 8, 1992.

Michael Solis: Surviving "Comfort Women" Rally at 900th Protest 2010

The women (or halmoni, the word for grandmother in Korean, as the woman are euphemistically called) have been protesting every Wednesday since Jan. 8, 1992.

Michael Solis: Surviving "Comfort Women" Rally at 900th Protest 2010

The aspiration of Lytle and so many of the halmoni's supporters is that Japan's stance will shift before the remaining halmoni pass away with their wishes for justice unrealized and their hopes for humanity shattered.

Ohmynews International 2010