When and why our group was formed

The Lolas Kampanyera Organization is composed of around 135 Filipino women survivors of Japanese military sexual slavery system in World War II who emerged publicly in October 2000. They are the third batch of wartime sex slaves organized in the Philippines. The word “Lola” means grandmother and it is also a term of endearment, to express affection and respect for the elderly women. Euphemistically called the “comfort women”, the former sex slaves are now grandmothers. The group was formed by the women’s rightsactivists and researchers of the Asian Women Human Rights Council (AWHRC) and the Buhay Foundation for Women and the Girl Child to enable the victims to have their voices heard and their stories of sexual enslavement told to assert their right to legal redress from the Japanese government and to reclaim their humanity. And thru self-organized activities of the survivors, the Lolas (or grandmas) wish to be recognized as an empowered community of women who are at the forefront of their campaign for redress and reparations for the human rights violation perpetrated by the Japanese imperial armed forces. There are two main chapters established of the Lolas Kampanyera group: one composed of 100 victims/Lolas based in Roxas City, Capiz Province in Panay Island who formally came together in October 2000; followed by the group composed of 30 survivors in Arayat municipality, Pampanga province founded in November of the same year. Other victims come from Antique, Pangasinan and Metro Manila.