In the war crimes trials conducted following World War II, the sexual violence perpetrated under the system of Japanese Military Sexual Slavery was not adequately addressed. Taking this limitation as our starting point, we aim to examine the jurisprudence and discourse on sexual violence within international criminal tribunals, as well as ongoing efforts to demand legal accountability for Japanese Military Sexual Slavery. Furthermore, we invite in-depth discussions to advance research and practice regarding contemporary conflict-related gender-based violence around the world.

The international community’s normative framework recognizing wartime sexual violence as a grave crime and demanding accountability has been forged over decades. Throughout this trajectory, the testimonies of the survivors of Japanese Military Sexual Slavery, alongside the efforts of civil society, served as an important opportunity in broadening global awareness of conflict-related sexual and gender-based violence.

We hope this conference, convening domestic and international scholars, activists, and emerging researchers, will provide a vital forum to bridge experiences across different periods and regions, fostering new questions and discussions on wartime sexual violence. Drawing upon the achievements of longstanding research and activism surrounding the issue of Japanese Military Sexual Slavery, we look forward to re-examining the meaning of accountability and justice from a contemporary perspective.

We warmly invite you to join us and engage in these meaningful discussions.