Malacañang refuted on Friday a United Nations (UN) panel's claim that the Philippines failed to provide reparations to Filipino women who the Japanese Imperial Army sexually abused during World War II.
The Philippine government, according to the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), takes note of the findings published by the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), emphasizing that it recognizes the suffering of Filipina victims of "atrocious violations" during the war.
The PCO, however, pointed out that "some reparations have been made, and the Supreme Court has adjudicated on the matter".
According to the PCO, the government will study the views of the UN Women's Rights Committee and respond in writing within six months, as required by the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
On March 8, International Women's Day, the CEDAW issued its decision on the complaint filed by 24 members of Malaya Lolas. This non-profit organization supports survivors of sexual slavery, also known as comfort women.
Malaya Lolas claimed that she had "consistently raised their claims at the domestic level, requesting that the government of the Philippines espouse their claims and their right to reparations against the government of Japan," but that her efforts had been "rejected by the authorities."
According to the UN, the group aimed to "establish the responsibility of the State Party to fulfill its commitments under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women in supporting the non-discrimination of women and girls on its territory."
Thousands of women across Asia, including the Philippines, were sexually enslaved by Japanese military forces during WWII.
In 1956, Manila and Tokyo signed a reparation agreement under which Japan agreed to provide the country with services and goods worth USD 550 million.
Despite the fact that their number is rapidly decreasing, the victims continue to seek justice and urge Japan to address the issue of comfort women.
