A detail from 'Mother and Child', a sculpture by Rebecca Hawkins, which stands in St James's Square, London, was created for Justice for Lai Dai Han to commemorate victims of sexual violence.A detail from 'Mother and Child', a sculpture by Rebecca Hawkins, which stands in St James's Square, London, was created for Justice for Lai Dai Han to commemorate victims of sexual violence.
We can take some comfort knowing that modern survivors are now starting to receive reparations they so desperately deserve. The recent decision forsends a strong message that sexual violence will not be tolerated and that survivors’ needs will be recognised and upheld.Lai Dai Han – which means “mixed blood” – is a term used, often pejoratively, to describe the children born to Vietnamese women and girls and South Korean soldiers during the Vietnam war.
I was 24 when I was first assaulted by a South Korean officer. When I discovered I was pregnant, I was beaten by my parents and attempted to end my life several times, but survived – I feel as though my unborn child was fighting for us both. Four years later, the same officer appeared again, taking me and my daughter to his remote military base. Ashamed and isolated, I felt I had no choice but to spend the next two years with my rapist, living in constant fear for my life and that of my child.
The Vietnamese government has continued to turn a blind eye. When we have tried to speak out, police have intervened and warned us to keep quiet. We have been arrested multiple times.