PAPER

Virtual Tour of WAM

The 10th International Conference of Museums for Peace

Title: Virtual Tour of WAM

Author: Fumiko Yamashita, Chief Secretary, Women's Active Museum on War and Peace

Abstract: This presentation aims to illustrate what initiatives and actions the Women’s Active Museum on War and Peace (WAM) is taking to pass down an issue that has long been denied and marginalized in Japanese society. WAM, established in August 2005 with donations from people in Japan and abroad, focuses on violence against women in war and conflict situations, particularly the issue of the Japanese military sexual slavery, or the so-called “comfort women” issue. WAM holds exhibitions and other educational events, conducts fact-finding projects, archives data and testimonials, and acts as an advocate for victims of Japan’s military sexual slavery. Through such activities above, WAM seeks to make the Japanese government, which wish to let the history forgotten, accountable for the Japanese military sexual slavery system and provides a space to remember women survivors’ stories of suffering as well as struggle to restore dignity and justice.

Video: https://youtu.be/NajkPXbjU0c