Grandmother Lee Yong-su, who met with the Human Rights Commissioner, says "Comfort Women Issue Should Be Referred to the UN Committee Against Torture"

Grandmother Lee Yong-soo (right), a victim of the Japanese military sexual slavery, is meeting with Song Doo-hwan, Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission of Korea, at the National Human Rights Commission in Jung-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 15th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] Grandmother Lee Yong-soo, a victim of the Japanese military sexual slavery, met with Song Doo-hwan, Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK), on the 15th to request that the government be advised to refer the comfort women issue to the United Nations Committee Against Torture (CAT).

That afternoon, at the Human Rights Commission in Jung-gu, Seoul, Grandmother Lee met with Chairperson Song and NHRCK Standing Commissioner Nam Gyu-seon, saying, "You are doing well, but I came to ask you to do even better," and added, "Please recommend that the government proceed with the CAT process."

Chairperson Song responded, "I feel relieved to see that you are in good health," and said, "If you share more of your thoughts, I will seek new tasks to address."

The meeting lasted about an hour. Grandmother Lee told reporters, "Chairperson Song is someone who gives a lot of help and care to comfort women victims," and added, "Because of my age, I am always anxious. I asked him to speak well so that President Moon Jae-in and the Committee Against Torture can work together."

Earlier, on the 26th of last month, Grandmother Lee and the 'Committee for the Promotion of Referring the Japanese Military Comfort Women Issue to the ICJ' held a press conference in Daegu, clearly stating that the comfort women system was a criminal act that forced victims to endure severe physical and mental suffering, and urged the referral of the comfort women issue to the CAT. While addressing the comfort women issue at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) requires the consent of both South Korea and Japan, referral to the CAT is possible without Japan's consent.

Following her meeting with Choi Jong-geon, First Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, on the 29th of last month, Grandmother Lee met with Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum on the 1st of this month to convey these demands. The promotion committee also plans to arrange a meeting between Grandmother Lee and President Moon.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.