Author: Elke Krasny, Kunst und Bildung (Art and Education Program), Akademie der bildenden Künste Wien (Academy of Fine Arts Vienna) - Personal Website, ORCID, Wikipedia

Abstracts:
- »Elke Krasny introduces the notion of ‘monumental activism’ to describe and analyse responses to commemorating the girls and young women who were forced into military sexual slavery by the Japanese Imperial Army in the years between 1932 and 1945. In doing so, Krasny queries how gendered and sexualised violence of the past is commemorated today. She also points to how heritage practice has a significant role in supporting the continuing demand for the recognition of historical responsibilities for war crimes as well as reparation.« (Source: Jenna C. Ashton. »Introducion.« The Routledge Handbook of Heritage and Gender. London 2025: 7)

- »How is the gendered and sexualised violence of the past and the war against women in times of war commemorated today? How does feminist organising through heritage practices such as building monuments matter to the recognition of women's rights as human rights and to influencing geopolitical and diplomatic relations? This chapter shows that the public commemoration of sexual crimes against women is central to contemporary feminist heritage practices. Using as example the transnational women-led movement dedicated to the commemorating the girls and young women, who were forced into military sexual slavery by the Japanese Imperial Army in the years between 1932 and 1945, the contribution introduces- the notion of monumental activism. Specifically mobilising through new monuments in cities around the world, the figurative statues dedicated to commemorating these girls and young women are key to organising local demonstrations and to creating a global media presence. Women's monumental activism brings to light militarised and state-sanctioned crimes against women and works against hegemonic narratives of patriarchal amnesia and silencing. Women's monumental activism turned to statues as critical heritage which contributed to achieving legal recognition of sexual violence as crime and supports the continuing demand for the recognition of historical responsibilities for war crimes as well as reparation.« (Source: Taylor & Francis Online)

Contents:

	The Statue of a Young Woman in Tainan (p. 256)
	Commemorating Military Sexual Slavery (p. 257)
	Monumental Activism and International Women’s Rights Activism (p. 258)
	Wednesday Demonstrations and Statues of Peace (p. 259)
	Living Statues of Peace (p. 261)
	Conclusion (p. 262)
	References (p. 263)

Reviews: -

Wikipedia: History of Asia: History of Japan / Shōwa era | History of Asia: History of Korea / Korea under Japanese rule, History of South Korea | History of Asia: History of Taiwan / Taiwan under Japanese rule, History of Taiwan (1945–present) | Prostitution: Forced prostitution / Comfort women | Memorial: Monuments and memorials to comfort women / Statue of Peace | Sex and the law: Wartime sexual violence / Sexual violence in World War II | War: Pacific War / Japanese war crimes