The advocacy efforts of victims in the Netherlands and the Dutch East Indies are strongly rooted in transnational historical memory and legal advocacy. Some survivors have rejected arrangements made by the Asian Women's Fund, demanding that the Japanese government directly address its national responsibility.
I. Background: The experiences of women in the Netherlands and the Dutch East Indies have long been documented by survivors, families, and Dutch NGOs. Dutch victim Jan Ruff-O'Herne has long publicly recounted her experiences and pushed for a formal apology from Japan.
II. Recent Developments: A UN expert statement in March 2026 included the Netherlands in the scope of relevant government communications, emphasizing that survivors and their families still deserve truth, justice, and compensation. Historically, the Asian Women's Fund has provided some Dutch victims with compensation payments and medical and welfare support, but some victims have refused, believing this cannot replace the Japanese government's formal acceptance of legal responsibility.
III. Status: The campaign is currently under international attention and procedural communication (issues related to historical memory, compensation liability, and record preservation still exist among the demands of Dutch victims; the Historical Fund project is not currently described as a new national compensation procedure).
Source: OHCHR 2026-03-06, Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Japanese government measures related to the comfort women issue.