Mr. Speaker, December 13 marks the 81st anniversary of the Nanjing massacre. In recognition of crimes against humanity and in the spirit of never again, I am calling on the government to declare December 13 of every year as Nanjing massacre commemorative day. Up to 300,000 people were killed. An estimated 200,000 women from occupied territories in Asia were tricked or coerced by the Japanese Imperial Army into sexual slavery.
The UN recognizes 19 countries where sexual violence is used as a tactic of war. If we can learn from history and commit to preventing it from happening again, humanity benefits.
Order of Canada recipients Joy Kogawa and Dr. Joseph Wong from Canada ALPHA, Satoko Norimatsu from Japanese Canadians Supporting Nanjing Massacre Commemorative Day, CACA, NCCC, CCC of Greater Vancouver and Toronto, Korean Senior Citizens of Greater Vancouver, Canada Philippines Solidarity for Human Rights, along with close to 40,000 petitioners across the country are in support.
I hope all members will as well.