The YWCA of Japan held the “YWCA Festa in Okinawa” in Naha city, Okinawa, from 14th to 16th February 2015.
The participants learned about the history of Okinawa, which had been an individual kingdom with unique culture before being annexed by mainland Japan, and its current situation where more than 74% of U.S. military bases concentrate on the small islands, causing threat to the safety of women and girls in the area, and a new base is now about to be constructed despite the will of the people clearly shown through a number of elections.
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The program was participated by 112 people from throughout Japan, as well as 6 participants from the YWCA of Philippines. During the event, Ms. Leonida Ortiz, president of the YWCA of Philippines, shared the activities of the YWCA of Philippines on recovering from the damages of the Typhoon Hayan in 2013.
At the closing of the event, the participants expressed their will through hand-drawn banners and a joint appeal.
The YWCA of Japan, together with our sisters in Okinawa and around the world, will continue to call for a peaceful world without military bases.
YWCA（Young Women’s Christian Association）is an international NGO where, upon a Christian foundation, women from around the world exceed the barriers of language and cultures and work together to encourage women’s participation in society and to realize a peaceful world where human rights, health and environment is protected. The movement began in Great Britain in 1855, and nowadays, it works in more than 100 countries throughout the world. The YWCA of Japan works with 24 local YWCAs and 37 junior and senior high-school YWCAs, and holds ESOSOC consultative status since 2019.
