Suzuyo Takazato (高里鈴代 ''Takazato Suzuyo'', born 1940) is a Japanese politician, feminist and peace activist. She helps female victims of

sexual violence Sexual violence is any sexual act or attempt to obtain a sexual act by violence or coercion, act to traffic a person, or act directed against a person's sexuality, regardless of the relationship to the victim.World Health Organization., World re ...

Career

From 1989 to 2004, she was a member of the

Naha is the capital city of Okinawa Prefecture, the southernmost prefecture of Japan. As of 1 June 2019, the city has an estimated population of 317,405 and a population density of 7,939 persons per km2 (20,562 persons per sq. mi.). The total area i ...

city council. Takazato founded the organisation Okinawa Women Act Against Military Violence in 1995. She campaigns and protests against American military presence in Okinawa and sexual violence committed by American soldiers to Okinawa women and children. She contributed to the establishment of a rape crisis center in Okinawa for the victims of sexual assaults. She raised her voice against American military bases stationing in

Okinawa is a prefecture of Japan. Okinawa Prefecture is the southernmost and westernmost prefecture of Japan, has a population of 1,457,162 (as of 2 February 2020) and a geographic area of 2,281 km2 (880 sq mi). Naha is the capital and largest city ...

. She questions the concept of militarized security and peace forced by military intervention. Takazato sees the link between violence against women and military violence. Her activism contributed to vast protests of inhabitants of Okinawa against American military presence in 1995.

“''Fifty-three years is long enough. We have really suffered''“. “''Prostitution and rape are the military system’s outlets for pent up aggression and methods of maintaining control and discipline – the target being local community women''.”

Awards and recognition

* Avon Women's Prize 1996 * Takako Doi Human Rights Award 1997 * Okinawa Times Award 2011 She was among 1000 women who were nominated for the

Nobel Peace Prize The Nobel Peace Prize is one of the five Nobel Prizes established by the will of Swedish industrialist, inventor and armaments (military weapons and equipment) manufacturer Alfred Nobel, along with the prizes in Nobel Prize in Chemistry, Chemi ...

in 2005.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Takazato, Suzuyo Japanese feminists Japanese pacifists Ryukyuan people 1940 births People from Naha Living people Japanese activists