Hope is rising ~ create a butterfly
Dear friend,
 © AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon In the year 2009, you'd think governments would have well and truly faced up to the atrocities of World War II. But for all the monuments to all the soldiers and all the history recorded in books and films - there remains a group of living, breathing survivors whose suffering has never been acknowledged; whose stories remain buried under layers of shame and outright denial by those responsible.
They are women from around the Asia Pacific and beyond who were kidnapped and held in sexual slavery by the Japanese military. Some for months, some for years. Of the estimated 200,000 Korean, Filipina, Malaysian, Chinese, Taiwanese, Indonesian, East Timorese, Japanese and Dutch women and girls subjected to the torture of repeated rapes and beatings, only a few are still alive today.
With your help, they will finally have recognition, and the opportunity for closure.
Create your own beautiful message of solidarity for these courageous survivors, and call for a Government motion to compensate them
The Japanese military called them "comfort women". We call them survivors of the highest courage and humility. Innocent civilians who endured untold physical and psychological trauma; who've endured more than 60 years without so much as an official apology - let alone compensation - from the Japanese Government.
Now we're seeing one of the biggest efforts yet to finally achieve formal recognition and reparations, after decades of denials and dodging responsibility. In all this time, Australia is one of the few Allied countries that hasn't stood up and called the Japanese Government to account. With your help, we can change this.
The survivors' chosen symbol is the butterfly - a unique and beautiful creature that has the power to fly above their suffering. That's why we're asking you to create your own butterfly, to be sent to our own Prime Minister and shared around the world on your social networks. With an outpouring of support at this crucial time, we can get the Australian Government to pass a motion urging the Japanese authorities to recognise and compensate survivors.
It's a simple and striking way to take a stand, and finally shine a light of justice and hope on dark acts hidden in silence and shame for generations.
Send your butterfly to Kevin Rudd, and we'll amplify your message here at home and abroad - ensuring the survivors we're in contact with know of your personal messages of hope and solidarity
In their company, you realise the sweetest smile of an elderly woman can conceal memories of unspeakable suffering, and reveal depths of unfathomable strength. Let's give them an outpouring of support the world will not forget.
Send your butterfly today.
With hope and thanks,
Hannah, Athena, Seb, Louise and the rest of the campaign team
Amnesty International Australia
PS: Australian Jan Ruff O'Herne was just 19 years old and interned with her family in Java when she was forcibly moved to a Japanese military brothel, and raped repeatedly for months (read an article about her story here). Ms O'Herne has been campaigning an awfully long time for justice, including testifying before the US Congress. Stand with her now.
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