Sexual Violence Archives - Contested Histories

Henryk Jankowski Statue in Gdansk

Contested Histories Admin — Mon, 24 Jun 2024 13:36:15 +0000

Henryk Jankowski was an eminent cleric in Poland renowned for his role in the anti-communist
Solidarity movement during the 1980s. After the fall of communism in the 1990s, he became
famous for his outspoken attitude. During his sermons, he would make political comments and
anti-Semitic remarks that stirred controversy in Poland. After his death in 2010, private donors
sponsored the construction of his statue in front of what had been his parish church. However, in
2018, a woman stated in Gazeta Wyborcza that Jankowski abused her from the age of 12 for
many years. Her statement stirred the controversy around Jankowski’s figure, and at one point,
local protesters dismantled the statue at the time when the Vatican held its abuse summit. In
March 2019, the City Council decided that Jankowski was no longer an honorary citizen and that
his statue would be officially removed.

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Indro Montanelli Statue in Milan

Contested Histories Admin — Sun, 12 May 2024 22:00:00 +0000

The Indro Montanelli statue in Milan was built in 2006 by the then-mayor Gabriele Albertini. Initially, criticism arose for the funeral aesthetic and impression of the statue; some described it as a ‘funerary mummification.’ However, in the last years, it has been contested for Montanelli’s link to colonialism, fascism and sexual abuse of an Eritrean girl. Since 2012, it has been vandalised by different groups, although mainly by feminist and LGTBQIA+ activists. In 2020, the debate on his figure was reignited in the light of the Black Lives Matter protests around the world. The case raises questions of how far crimes that took place in Italy’s colonialist past are acknowledged and, more broadly, whether a historical figure’s achievements can be viewed separately from their other actions.

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Filipina Comfort Women in Manila

Contested Histories Admin — Mon, 12 Feb 2024 10:00:00 +0000

Filipina Comfort Women was a statue erected on 8 December 2017 along Baywalk, Roxas Boulevard, in Manila. The contestation began days after the statue’s installation with a request for background information by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). Japanese Minister for Internal Affairs and Communication Seiko Noda later regretted the statue’s installation by Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte. In April 2018, the statue was taken down and then moved to its artist Jonas Roces’s studio in Antipolo, Rizal. In August 2018, the artist reported the statue as stolen.

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Comfort Women Memorial in New Jersey

Paula — Mon, 16 Jan 2023 10:00:00 +0000

A ‘Comfort Women’ Memorial was unveiled outside Palisades Public Library in New Jersey in 2010. The monument paid homage to the more than 200,000 South Korean women who were victims of sexual exploitation (also termed ‘sexual slavery’) by Imperial Japanese forces before and during World War II. Though the Korean-American community in New Jersey celebrated a growing remembrance of the harm that many Korean women suffered, the monument sparked controversy in Japan. During multiple diplomatic visits and through a petition to the White House, the Japanese government attempted unsuccessfully to have the memorial removed. This case study raises questions about memorialisation in a nation not directly involved in events from the past.

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Statue of Peace in Seoul

Jade — Tue, 11 Jan 2022 13:22:00 +0000

The Statue of Peace in Seoul, South Korea, is among the most iconic and contested statues dedicated to ‘comfort women’, a euphemism for women who were sexually exploited by the Japanese military during the Second World War. Since its unveiling in 2011, the statue has been a source of ongoing contention in Japan-South Korea relations and has resulted in a proliferation of replica statues around the world. This case study examines the emotive power of public monuments to convey historical injustices and their potential for impacting diplomatic relations at the highest levels of government. This case also brings to the fore the power of activists and communities to use local public spaces to send messages that reverberate internationally.

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Gender, Transnational Justice and Memorial Arts

Contested Histories Admin — Wed, 07 Jul 2021 15:06:31 +0000

This book examines the role of post-conflict memorial arts in bringing about gender justice in transitional societies. The book brings together research from scholars around the world who are interested in the gendered dimensions of memory-making in transitional societies. Aimed at those interested in the fields of transitional justice, memory studies, post-conflict peacebuilding, human rights and gender studies

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Statue of Peace in Berlin

Contested Histories Admin — Sun, 04 Jul 2021 20:48:25 +0000

The ‘Statue of Peace’ in Berlin-Moabit commemorates ‘comfort women’, a euphemism for women who were sexually enslaved by the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II. The memorial urges historical justice and reconciliation. After its unveiling in September 2020, the installation drew criticism from Japanese officials. Although the Berlin-Mitte district government initially decided to remove the statue, the temporary monument now has the prospect of becoming permanent. Protests from civil society associations led to the reversal of the decision.

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‘Comfort Women’ Column of Strength in San Francisco, California

Contested Histories Admin — Sun, 04 Jul 2021 20:40:44 +0000

In 2017, a civil society organisation unveiled a San Francisco monument dedicated to the “comfort women,” women compelled to provide sexual services for the Japanese military during World War II. The monument became the centre of an international conflict, with both passionate supporters and fierce critics of the monument and its plaque. Following a flurry of correspondence between government officials in Osaka and San Francisco, the monument led to the termination of the decades-long San Francisco-Osaka sister city relationship.

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The Intersection of Colonialism and Gender & Sexuality

Contested Histories Admin — Fri, 01 Jan 2021 12:45:00 +0000

In this lesson, students will analyze the intersection between colonialism and sexuality, especially in the context of how colonial states use sex as a form of power and control. Students will utilize their critical thinking skills to learn about heteronormativity and the impacts of settler colonialism on Indigenous communities. Through small and large group discussions, students will explore topics covering imperialism, sexuality, and watch videos relating to how federal policies seek to reinforce hetero-patriarchy within the United States.

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Generating Tension

Contested Histories Admin — Tue, 07 Jul 2020 15:27:00 +0000

The writer explores how war crimes, such as sexual slavery and rape, as delicate and difficult history, are present in today’s dialogue between countries. The focus is on sexual violence perpetrated by the Japanese Imperial Army in South Korea, and how this affects the relationship between these countries to this day. Master Thesis at Rhode Island School of Design.

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