UNESCO Registration of Comfort Women Records Stalled for 4 Years Due to Japan's Delay Tactics

Japan delays applying new regulations
UNESCO cautious due to major sponsor
International Solidarity Committee "Will try until the end"

On January 6, a press conference for the 1473rd regular Wednesday demonstration to resolve the issue of Japanese military sexual slavery was held in front of the Statue of Peace in front of the former Japanese Embassy in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] The international community's efforts to register the Japanese military comfort women records as a UNESCO Memory of the World have been stalled for four years. Japan's delaying tactics, UNESCO's passive attitude influenced by its largest sponsor Japan, and the impact of COVID-19 have all contributed to the lack of progress.

The UNESCO Memory of the World registration of the Japanese military comfort women records is being led by the "International Solidarity Committee for the Joint Registration of Japanese Military Comfort Women Related Records as UNESCO Memory of the World," composed of 14 organizations from 8 countries including South Korea, China, Taiwan, and the Netherlands. The committee collected 2,744 comfort women related records and submitted the registration application, which the UNESCO registration subcommittee evaluated as "unique and irreplaceable materials." However, the UNESCO International Advisory Committee (IAC) decided to defer the registration of the comfort women records in October 2017.

Efforts to re-push the registration led by the International Solidarity Committee have been met with Japan using the joint registration card to stall for time. Although UNESCO appointed a mediator, the mediator was replaced once, and with the overlap of COVID-19, only two online exploratory meetings have been held.

The activities of the International Solidarity Committee for the joint inscription of Japanese military 'comfort women' related records on the UNESCO Memory of the World Register

In an interview with Asia Economy, Shin Hyesoo, head of the International Solidarity Committee, said, "UNESCO has not actively chaired the registration-related work, and Japan has avoided it so far. Since they do not want the registration, they have not even tried to engage in dialogue." She pointed out, "Moreover, UNESCO's processing speed is extremely slow, and it lacks the determination or conditions to break free from Japan's pressure." UNESCO is going a step further by pushing to reform the World Heritage registration process to include the clause that "issues uncomfortable to the opposing country are to be discussed between the two countries."

The comfort women records were submitted in 2017 and are not subject to retroactive application, but there is a possibility that Japan might try to apply the revised criteria retroactively. Shin said, "We are absolutely not bound by the new regulations. The Japanese applicants are using the revision of the regulations as an excuse to say they will engage in dialogue only after the changes." She added, "Since UNESCO has decided to mediate and hold dialogues, even if Japan is reluctant, we must push forward."

Han Hyein, a research fellow at the Asia Peace and History Institute, explained, "Japan insists that issues with conflicts must follow the new regulations, but UNESCO's mediation and dialogue have proceeded independently of this. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also maintains the position that retroactive application is not possible." The International Solidarity Committee is prepared for a long-term battle and is even willing to discuss joint registration as Japan demands. Shin said, "Even if Japan is reluctant to agree, we must push forward. We are ready to talk and are waiting. If we give up, the only ones who benefit are Japan, so we will see it through to the end."

Meanwhile, the registration of the comfort women records as a Memory of the World, which was halted during the Park Geun-hye administration, has been proceeding under the Moon Jae-in administration in the form of supporting civic groups rather than direct government support. Earlier this month, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family began recruiting executing agencies for academic conferences, exhibitions, and other promotional activities related to the registration project and for responding to the UNESCO Memory of the World registration.