Seeking Meaningful Redress for Korean Forced Labour Survivors
War reparations, Lawsuits, Post-War, Forced Labour
With a focus on South Korean forced labour lawsuits after World War II in Asia, this paper considers factors that have led to the lack of redress by Japan and, most importantly, what the implications are for survivors in light of what meaningful justice means to them.
Emily Jin
ALPHA Education
Nanjing War Crimes Tribunal: Research Memorandum
War crimes, War crimes trial, International law
Using primary sources, this brief memorandum examines the historical and legal significance of the Nanjing War Crimes Tribunal, which tried Japanese war criminals in the wake of their atrocities during WWII. This memo focuses on the statutory and common law sources that the court employed in the trials and offers an overview of international law developed after World War I.
Zhirui Guan
ALPHA Education
<p><strong>Memories of the Silenced: From Survivors to Activists -- </strong>A discussion guide on the documentary "50 Years of Silence"</p>
Japanese Military Sexual Slavery, War Atrocities, Human Rights, Justice
Based on a memoir of the same title, "50 Years of Silence" documents the experiences of Jan Ruff-O'Herne as a young girl enslaved under the Japanese military sexual slavery system and the decades of trauma, survivorship, and activism that followed. This discussion paper is suitable for educators and researchers interested in igniting discourse on the complex issues surrounding Japanese Military Sexual Slavery during World War II in Asia.
Ranesh Sirimanne
ALPHA Education
Resources for Educators: The Apology
Japanese Military Sexual Slavery, War Atrocities, Human Rights, Justice
The Apology, a documentary by Tiffany Hsiung, follows the journeys of three former “comfort women” who were among the 200,000 girls and young women kidnapped and forced into military sexual slavery by the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II. After decades of living in silence and shame about their past, the three “grandmothers”– Grandma Gil in South Korea, Grandma Cao in China, and Grandma Adela in the Philippines - share their lived experiences to ensure that this atrocity is not forgotten. <br /><br />Created by <a href="https://www.pbs.org/pov/watch/theapology/">POV</a>, this collection of resources includes a discussion guide, lesson plan, and a reading list. <br /><br /><a href="https://www.nfb.ca/film/apology/">View the film here.</a>
POV
http://archive.pov.org/theapology/
ALPHA Education
<a href="https://earth.google.com/earth/d/1sWfp7h80oOaTz8KmiY94C5Wi3xYfXHYv?usp=sharing">Statue of Peace: Memory and Reconciliation</a>
War atrocities, Japanese Military Sexual Slavery system, Statue of Peace
The goal of <a href="https://earth.google.com/earth/d/1sWfp7h80oOaTz8KmiY94C5Wi3xYfXHYv?usp=sharing">this project</a> is to highlight the strength and resilience of the survivors of the Japanese Military Sexual Slavery system. With the first statue of peace raised in Seoul, Korea, many more since then have been built and raised to honor the women who suffered, and to make sure that similar atrocities associated with war do not happen again. Through education about the various statues of peace raised to honor the memory of these women, it is the hope that the wider public will learn more about the stories behind these women, which are missing from school curricula around the world. The overarching goal of the peace statues, like many projects created to spread awareness of the consequences of war, is to protect the culture of peace. In doing so, societies can be free from sexual violence and other crimes against human rights. <br /><br />This project was created by the following ALPHA Education interns from the Global Scholars Program conducted in partnership with University of Michigan: Benitez Laura, Chau Madelyn, and Nair Rashmi (2021-22).
ALPHA Education
ALPHA Education
Study Guide For Teachers: Iris Chang - The Rape of Nanking
Nanjing massacre, WWII in Asia, Japanese atrocities, Human rights
Iris Chang was a respected humanitarian, outstanding journalist and advocate for justice. This docudrama portrays Iris Chang’s courage and unfaltering conviction to speak for those who cannot speak for themselves, while providing an accurate historical account of the 1937 Nanking Massacre. The film obtained full co-operation from Iris Chang’s parents who provided valuable information about their beloved daughter. A research team reviewed many archives on the Nanking Massacre and Iris Chang, and uncovered more than 200 boxes of Iris Chang’s research work and archives at the Hoover Institute. The research team was also able to obtain the original video tapes taken by Iris of survivors while she was in Nanking, and the original films taken by Missionary, John McGee, during the Massacre. The production team found and interviewed numerous survivors in Nanking, as well as former Japanese soldiers, right-wing revisionists, and peace activists in Japan. The television premiere of Iris Chang – the Rape of Nanking aired on Canada’s History Channel on December 13, 2007 – the 70th anniversary of the Nanking Massacre.
This study guide is theme-based instead of curriculum-based. It is intended for use internationally within any secondary school system. The guide consists of a list of recommendations on how to use this film in a classroom setting, a suggested list of teachable themes that the film relates to, and Response Questions. Appendixes of World War II Timelines, Maps, Names, Song Lyrics and References are also included.
ALPHA Education
ALPHA Education
2009
English
Study guide for teachers
Justice in the Age of Global Politics: The Case of Unit 731 Medical Atrocities (Virtual Exhibit)
Unit 731, Medical atrocities
This is a virtual version of an actual exhibit by the Asia Pacific Peace Museum (APPM) team at ALPHA in partnership with the Unit 731 Museum at Harbin
Asia Pacific Peace Museum (APPM)/ALPHA Education
ALPHA Education
Flora Chong, Alex Sweeney, Alissa Wang, Charmaine Ching
Indigenous Law (Posters)
Indigenous Law
This poster series provides an overview of Indigenous concepts of law, Social Justice, and background of Colonial law.
Carolina S. Ruiz, Research and Resource Development Associate
ALPHA Education
Decolonizing Human Rights Education through Critical Perspectives in Asian History (Resources from the Unequal Treaty Series Project) (2019-2020)
Unequal Treaties
This resource summarizes four unequal treaties of import from 1842-1901. The Treaty of Nanking (1842) and the Treaty of Kanagawa (1854) saw the advent of Western Imperialism in China and Japan respectively. Subsequently, the Shimonoseki Treaty (1895) and the Boxer Protocol (1901) saw the emergence of Japan as an economic and military super power during the 19th century. Summaries of the treaties are followed by short essays that outline the historical context, the impact, and the historical significance of the treaties.
Austin Ray and Jonathan Hou, PBSC (University of Toronto, Faculty of Law), ALPHA Education Volunteers 2019
ALPHA Education
The Komagata Maru
On May 23, 1914, the Komagata Maru sailed into Vancouver Harbour from Hong Kong via Mainland China and Japan. On board were 376 South Asian immigrants, all British citizens, wishing to settle in Canada. This short video explains the Supreme Court of Canada's decision to bar British subjects of South Asian descent from entering Canada - a tragic event that led to untold suffering, starvation, and senseless deaths.
Jun Hu, Pro Bono Students of Canada Volunteer, University of Toronto Faculty of Law (2020)
ALPHA Education