At 94, Estelita Dy, one of the last living survivors of wartime sexual slavery by the Japanese army during World War II, passed away on November 24, 2024. Abducted at 14 while working on a sugarcane farm, she endured repeated abuse in military barracks before finding her voice decades later.
Inspired by fellow survivor Rosa Henson in the 1990s, Dy became a founding member of Lila Pilipina, a grassroots group advocating for justice and reparations for Philippine wartime sexual slavery victims. “She fought for justice until her deathbed,” said Sharon Cabusao-Silva, Lila Pilipina’s director.
Dy’s daughter, Elizabeth, has pledged to carry on her mother’s mission. Speaking at her mother’s grave, Elizabeth declared, “We demand historical accountability and reparations. Though she’s gone, I’ll keep fighting, even if justice feels distant.”
Estelita Dy’s journey highlights the enduring power of survivors to shape history and inspire new generations. As calls for acknowledgment and redress continue, her legacy reminds us that the fight for human rights transcends time.
“My mother taught me that silence only deepens injustice,” Elizabeth said. “Now, I speak for her and for all those still waiting for justice.”
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Daughter to carry on fight after former Filipina sex slave dies
cgtn.com
