The Philippine government will review the findings of the United Nations (UN) women’s rights panel, which stated that the country had neglected its obligations to pay reparation for Filipino who served as comfort women during World War II.
In a statement on Friday, the Presidential Communication Office (PCO) said that once the findings are reviewed, the government will submit a written response to the UN committee within six months.
“The Government of the Philippines recognizes the suffering of female victims of atrocious violations that occurred during the Second World War,” it said.
On March 8, international women’s day, the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) issued its decision on the appeal by the members of Malaya Lolas, a non-profit organization that supports sexual slavery survivors.
In the appeal, Natalia Alonzo and 23 other victims raised that the government had been rejecting their request for compensation and their right to reparations against the Government of Japan.
“Given the extreme severity of gender-based violence suffered by the victims, and the continuing discrimination against them regarding restitution, compensation, and rehabilitation, the Committee concluded that the Philippines had breached its obligations under the Convention,” the UN CEDAW said.
But the PCO noted that in the previous years, the government has already made “some reparations” and that “the Supreme Court has adjudicated on the matter.’
“The Government of the Philippines remains fully committed to women's rights pursuant to its international human rights obligation and national laws and jurisprudence,” it further said.
