Victims of Japanese military sexual slavery, being satisfied at governmental support but in bad state of health

MOGEF announced “2012 Survey on the Victims of Japanese Military Sexual Slavery.” Under the request of MOGEF, Korea Women’s Development Institute executed survey on 60 victim grandmothers survived as of October, 2012 (54 in Korea, 6 overseas) about their satisfaction level on governmental support and health status. 
※ Legal background: Article 10 of the Act on Livelihood Stability and Commemorative Projects, etc. for Sexual Slavery Victims Drafted for the Japanese Imperial Army under the Japanese Colonial Rule 

The survey shows satisfaction level of the victim grandmothers on the overall support from the government including livelihood stability allowance and health care allowance are satisfactory on the whole (3.56 in 5 point). 57.4% (31 respondents) have shown ‘satisfactory,’ 5.6% (3 respondents) have shown ‘very satisfactory,’ which have made 63% (34 respondents) as being satisfied. In the survey, the victims have shown strong intention to file lawsuit for regaining of the impaired honor and claim for damages. 

The survey revealed that the health conditions of the victim grandmothers were relatively poor compared to those of old women in same age (participants of 2010 Aging Society Panel Research) showing depression in emotional health and inferiority in managing daily life and cognitive function test. 

The ratio of feeling depression over 2 weeks is 40.7%, which is 4 times higher than 9.2% for normal old women. 30% of the victims needed help in daily lives of going to toilet, etc. which is 3 times higher than 10% for general old women of that age. 

Above 50% of the grandmothers required assistance in taking medicine, controlling money, going out on public transportation, while about 20% of the grandmothers of same age need such assistance. At the recognition function test, those in doubt of severe disability were 75.9% which is a lot higher compared 48.8% for general women. 

Regarding the medical examination of the victims, 44.4% received free medical examination and 33.3% received 2nd medical examination, which is very high compared to 5.8% for normal old women. Based on the 2012 health survey, MOGEF plans to execute comprehensive health examination for the victim grandmothers. 
MOGEF will also support for the lawsuit to restore honor, express historical truth and receive compensation from the Japanese government. With the revision of the “Act on Livelihood Stability and Commemorative Projects, etc. for Sexual Slavery Victims Drafted for the Japanese Imperial Army under the Japanese Colonial Rule” on December 18, 2012, legal ground to support the lawsuit will be established from June, 2013.