An 80-year-old Chinese woman who was used as a sex slave for Japanese soldiers during World War II left Haikou, Hainan Province, on Thursday to serve as a witness in a Tokyo court.
A local judicatory in the Japanese capital is scheduled to announce its verdict for Lin Yajin's case next Thursday.
Beginning in 1943, Lin was used by Japanese troops as a "comfort woman." In 1946, she escaped and then married in 1951 but could never have children because of her ordeal. She and her husband adopted a son and a daughter.
"I'm so content that I am alive to serve as a witness at Japanese court," said Lin, a native of Baoting Li and Miao Autonomous County.
Lin and other Hainan women were 14-18 years old when they were used as sex slaves.
Lin sued Japan in 2001, demanding a public apology and compensation. She is the second plaintiff of the group to appear in a Japanese court to defend their rights and interests.
Huang youniang was the first to appear as a witness in a Japanese court in November 2001.
Japanese courts have rejected a number of lawsuits brought by Chinese women, and the Japanese government has so far refused to provide official compensation.
The all-China Lawyers' Association, the All-China Women's Federation, and the China Foundation for Human Rights Development backed the women and promised to help protect their legal rights and interests.
"The number accounts for less than one-third of the comfort women in China and most have never come forward," said Su Zhiliang with the Shanghai-based China Center for Studying the Issue of Sex Slaves during World War II.
"These sex slaves are living evidence. They and their experiences of ordeal and humiliation should be Sex slave Japan-bound (0312)
An 80-year-old Chinese woman who was used as a sex slave for Japanese soldiers during World War II left Haikou, Hainan Province, on Thursday to serve as a witness in a Tokyo court.
A local judicatory in the Japanese capital is scheduled to announce its verdict for Lin Yajin's case next Thursday.
Beginning in 1943, Lin was used by Japanese troops as a "comfort woman." In 1946, she escaped and then married in 1951 but could never have children because of her ordeal. She and her husband adopted a son and a daughter.
"I'm so content that I am alive to serve as a witness at Japanese court," said Lin, a native of Baoting Li and Miao Autonomous County.
Lin and other Hainan women were 14-18 years old when they were used as sex slaves.
Lin sued Japan in 2001, demanding a public apology and compensation. She is the second plaintiff of the group to appear in a Japanese court to defend their rights and interests.
Huang youniang was the first to appear as a witness in a Japanese court in November 2001.
Japanese courts have rejected a number of lawsuits brought by Chinese women, and the Japanese government has so far refused to provide official compensation.
The all-China Lawyers' Association, the All-China Women's Federation, and the China Foundation for Human Rights Development backed the women and promised to help protect their legal rights and interests.
"The number accounts for less than one-third of the comfort women in China and most have never come forward," said Su Zhiliang with the Shanghai-based China Center for Studying the Issue of Sex Slaves during World War II.
"These sex slaves are living evidence. They and their experiences of ordeal and humiliation should be protected by law," Su said. "People in China will never accept the denial by Japanese courts."