The scars of wartime sexual violence endure long after conflicts end, shaping generations and testing the resolve of societies seeking justice. One of the darkest chapters in 20th-century history is the plight of the "comfort women"—a euphemism that belies the systematic sexual slavery to which thousands of women and girls were subjected by the Japanese Imperial Army during World War II. Breaking the silence around this history has required extraordinary courage, advocacy, and a global demand for recognition and restorative justice.
In this ongoing struggle, communication plays a critical role—especially when survivors seek medical attention or share their stories across language barriers. Medical translation has emerged as an essential bridge, honoring their experience and ensuring their health needs are met with compassion and accuracy. Today, as we reflect on the legacy represented by the Statue of Peace and the ongoing quest for justice, we explore how breaking down linguistic barriers through translation services for healthcare is vital in supporting women affected by wartime sexual violence and in promoting women's rights on a global scale.
Medical Needs of Survivors of Wartime Sexual Violence
Emerging from the turmoil of war, survivors of sexual slavery—like the comfort women—carry not only psychological trauma but also immediate and long-term physical health consequences. These may include untreated injuries, sexually transmitted infections, reproductive health complications, and the complex effects of unaddressed mental health disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression.
However, accessing high-quality medical care can be a daunting challenge. Many survivors are forced into silence by shame, stigma, or fear of retribution. For those who step forward, additional barriers often include limited proficiency in the dominant language of their medical providers, unfamiliarity with medical terminology, and a lack of culturally responsive healthcare systems that can address their unique needs.
Language is often the first and most profound barrier between survivors and the support they require. Research shows that patients with limited proficiency in the official language of a country face higher risks of medical error, misdiagnosis, inadequate treatment, and poor health outcomes. These risks are amplified in cases involving sensitive subjects such as sexual violence, where clear communication, trust, and confidentiality are paramount.
Medical Translation as a Force for Dignity and Empowerment
Effective medical translation does more than convert words from one language to another—it builds trust, promotes safety, and ensures informed consent. For former comfort women, survivors of wartime sexual violence, or any woman navigating healthcare in a new language environment, quality translation is a matter of dignity and empowerment.
1. Promoting Access to Critical Healthcare
Access to trauma-informed care can fundamentally alter the trajectory of a survivor's life. With the assistance of professional medical translators, survivors can articulate their symptoms, histories, and concerns freely, receive accurate diagnoses, and participate in decisions regarding their treatment. This not only improves health outcomes but also restores a sense of control and autonomy that was denied during their time of enslavement.
2. Facilitating the Healing Process
Psychological healing often begins with the ability to share one’s story in a safe, supportive environment. Without the means to communicate in their native language, many survivors remain isolated in their trauma. Medical translation opens the door to mental health services, counseling, and community resources that can provide holistic healing and re-integration.
3. Supporting Justice and Documentation
The process of seeking reparations or justice frequently involves navigating legal, medical, and governmental systems—many of which require precise documentation of abuse and its aftereffects. Medical translators fill a critical gap, ensuring that testimonies, medical records, and forensic evidence are accurately recorded and understood. Without their expertise, survivors risk being misunderstood, underrepresented, or dismissed.
Statue of Peace: A Symbol of Voice and Remembrance
At the heart of movements to honor the memory of comfort women stands the Statue of Peace—a powerful work of public art that serves as both a memorial and a call to action. This striking sculpture, often depicting a young woman seated resolutely, represents the strength and resilience of all victims of wartime sexual violence. It reminds us not only of past atrocities but also of the shared responsibility to prevent such abuses in the future.
The platforms built around these monuments are designed to educate, advocate, and build bridges between past and present. They offer survivor testimonies, organize events of remembrance, and equip communities with resources about sexual violence, historical justice, and women’s rights. Central to this mission is ensuring that the message—the stories, the lessons, and the calls for justice—are accessible to a global audience.
Here again, medical translation serves a vital purpose. It ensures that educational campaigns, survivor testimonies, and advocacy materials reach diverse communities, strengthening the global movement against sexual violence and amplifying the voices of those most affected.
The Global Movement: Advocacy, Education, and Women’s Rights
The recognition of the comfort women and the installation of Statues of Peace worldwide have sparked important conversations about reparations, state responsibility, and historical memory. However, these efforts must be complemented by continued advocacy to support survivors on every front—including healthcare.
Translation services for healthcare are now widely recognized as a human right, essential for breaking down barriers to access and for fighting discrimination in health systems. As countries implement standards for linguistically appropriate care, survivors from all backgrounds can expect better support in seeking health services while maintaining their privacy and dignity.
Organizations committed to medical translation are leading the way in this transformation. They help bridge the gap between survivors and providers, promote inclusivity, and raise the standard of care for all. These efforts are inseparable from the broader movement for women’s rights—because every woman deserves to have her voice heard, her story validated, and her health needs met without barriers.
Building a Future of Compassion and Justice
The journey to justice for the comfort women and all survivors of wartime sexual violence is ongoing. The installations like the Statue of Peace and the platforms dedicated to their memory are powerful tools for truth-telling, education, and advocacy. Yet, these cannot stand alone. Breaking language barriers through professional translation services for healthcare is a vital act of solidarity and care. It transforms remembrance into meaningful action; it restores the agency of survivors; and it ensures that women everywhere are met with dignity, respect, and compassion—no matter where their journey leads them.
As we honor the past, let us continue to advocate for translation, justice, and universal access to healthcare. Let the voices that were silenced by violence be heard through the power of language, and let every woman reclaim her right to be seen, understood, and healed.
