일본군강제위안부와 현대의 인신매매 범죄를 연계한 법안이 메릴랜드주에서 처음 통과돼 관심을 끌고 있다.
18일 상원 본회의에서 통과된 '위안부 및 인신매매근절 법안(Joint Resolution 3)'은 몽고메리 지역구의 수잔 리 의원이 발의한 것으로 지난 6일 상원 교육·건강·환경위원회에서 만장일치로 통과된 바 있다.
결의안은 이번 결의안은 2차 세계대전 기간 중 일본군에 의해 행해진 강제위안부는 절대 용서될 수 없는 반인륜적인 범죄로 이를 잊지 않고 돌이킴으로써 피해자의 명예회복(名譽回復)을 돕고 오늘날의 인신매매 범죄를 근절하는 계기로 삼아야 한다는 취지로 마련됐다.
결의안은 "일본 정부는 2차 세계대전 당시 젊은 여성 20만여 명을 아시아와 태평양 섬들에서 일본군의 성노예로 활용할 유일한 목적으로 모집했다. 위안부 생존자들은 일본군에 납치당해 성매매를 강요당하고 집단 강간과 강제 낙태, 굴욕, 성폭력을 당해 장애와 영구적인 질병, 죽음, 자살 등으로 이어졌다고 증언했다"고 강조했다.
이와 함께 메릴랜드주에서 16세 미만의 미성년자를 납치해 성매매에 관여시킬 경우, 기소된 사람이 희생자가 미성년자인 것을 몰랐다고 발뺌해도 중범죄로 처벌하는 내용을 담고 있다.
중국계 수잔 리(사진) 주 상원의원은 "일본군 강제위안부 문제는 과거의 범죄만이 아니라 아직도 해결되지 않고 이어지는 현재의 인신매매 문제이기도 하다"면서 "결의안을 통해 위안부 피해자의 명예를 회복하고 현대의 인신범죄 예방과 희생자의 치료를 제도적으로 보완할 수 있을 것"이라고 기대했다.
한편 이번 결의안이 통과되기까지 워싱턴 정신대문제 대책위원회를 비롯한 한인단체가 힘을 합쳤고 전미 전미유색인종지위향상협회, 히스패닉 단체인 카사 메릴랜드 등이 참여했다.
이정실 워싱턴정대위 회장은 "위안부 피해자를 포함, 모든 인신매매 범죄의 희생자들의 인권과 정의를 위해 노력해 준 수잔 리 의원에게 사의를 표한다"고 말했다.
메릴랜드한인회도 "과거 역사가 마음에 들지 않는다고 지워버리려는 정치적 압력을 묵과할 수 없다"며 "우리는 국가 주도의 인신매매범죄인 위안부 희생자들에게 또다른 희생을 강요하는 자들과 싸워야 한다"고 단호한 입장을 피력했다.
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The Full Maryland Senate Passed A Senate Joint Resolution 3 on Comfort Women Issues and other Human Trafficking Senate bills
Annapolis, MD – Human trafficking is not relegated to our history books referencing far off places generations ago, but some would even have the history of the human trafficking victims be forgotten. Recent efforts to suppress American history textbook references to Japanese Imperial sex slaves known as “Comfort Women” demonstrates that societies suppress the knowledge of human trafficking horrors, which leads to blaming the victims. The world-wide stories of human trafficking victims did not cease with the termination of WWII, and are scattered all over Maryland today. Senator Lee was a champion for victims of human trafficking while she served as a Delegate, and now Lee is shining even more light on the plight of human trafficking victims as their new champion in the Maryland State Senate. Moreover, beyond bringing attention to the needs of human trafficking victims, Senator Lee is moving substantial legislation that would divert many victims from the criminal justice system. Senator Susan Lee (D-Montgomery) stated, “These bills will help human trafficking victims, many who are some of our state’s most susceptible and vulnerable youth between the ages of 9 and 18, escape the vicious cycle of sexual slavery, exploitation, criminalization and misery, and be provided with the services, resources, and support they need to rebuild and move forward with their lives.”
Senate Joint Resolution 3, introduced by Senator Lee, highlights the similarities of society’s treatment of modern day victims of human trafficking and the Comfort Women. “We must never forget the victims of human trafficking, nor allow society to condemn them for no fault of their own.” said Senator Susan Lee.
Dr. Julie Jungsil Lee, President of the Washington Coalition for Comfort Women Issues, Inc. expressed the gratitude of many when she told Senator Lee, “Thank you for your leadership and tenacity in fighting for human rights and justice for all victims of human trafficking, and preserving the harsh but true history of Comfort Women.”
Dr. Hyun Sook Choi, Executive Vice President of the Korean American Assoc. of the State of Maryland added, “We cannot allow political pressure to erase history just because it is unpleasant. We need to fight those who try to further victimize the victims of state-sponsored human trafficking known as comfort women.”
In recognizing the historical importance of passing Senate Joint Resolution 3 honoring comfort women through a coalition effort in Maryland, Honorable Chung K. Pak, past Maryland Higher Education Commissioner, noted that, “All of the victims of state-sponsored human trafficking known as "comfort women" and other victims of human trafficking are being honored in Maryland today with the full Senate passage of Senate Joint Resolution 3. This resolution is an important reminder that we need to be vigilant against the exploitation of children and women everywhere.”
Senator Lee and Delegate Morales (D-Montgomery) have introduced SB521/HB456 which would create a Workgroup to Study Safe Harbor Policy for Youth Victims of Human Trafficking. Senator Lee and Delegate Waldstreicher (D-Montgomery) also have, SB521 and HB905, to allow trafficking victims to assert an affirmative defense of being a victim of human trafficking if charged with prostitution. SB521 and SB520 passed third reader unanimously.
The following individuals have assisted Senator Susan Lee in passing Senate Joint Resolution 3 honoring comfort women and other human trafficking bills: Jung Sil Lee representing Washington Coalition for Comfort Women Issues, Dr. Hyun Sook Choi representing Korean American Assoc. of the State of Maryland, James Han representing LOKA Maryland, Yung Ron Jang representing LOKA Howard County, Young Ha Kim representing Montgomery County Korean American Assoc., So Jung Im representing Korean American Assoc. of the Washington Metropolitan Area, Chung K. Pak representing the Coalition of Asian American Democrats of Maryland, Linda Han representing Global Hanin Yundai, Christina Shin representing Korean American Women's Chamber of Commerce, Harold Pyon representing Korean Community Service Center, Senator Karen Montgomery representing Women Legislators of Maryland, Jessica Emerson representing Human Trafficking Task Force, Nancy Winsten representing Share Hope, Reon Dennis representing NAACP Maryland Chapter (the most preeminent African American organization). Kim Propiack representing CASA de Maryland (the most preminent Latino (Hispanic) organization in Maryland), and other representatives from various Asian American organizations.
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