What's happening
This bill requires New York schools to teach about violence against women during armed conflicts, including "comfort women" in World War II.
Why it matters
Broadens students' understanding of historical injustices. By including violence against women during armed conflict—especially the history of "comfort women"—the bill ensures students learn about lesser-known but significant human rights abuses, fostering empathy and awareness of gender-based violence.
Encourages critical thinking about war and society. Teaching about "comfort women" and similar topics highlights the complex and often overlooked consequences of armed conflict, prompting students to consider the broader impacts of war on vulnerable populations.
Aligns New York education with international human rights education trends. The inclusion of this content reflects a growing movement to address gender-based violence and historical accountability in school curricula, helping to prepare students for global citizenship and informed civic engagement.
Albany, before your first meeting.
Every bill that moved yesterday, summarized in a sentence and ranked by impact. The Albany Scorecard follows on Sundays.
Free. Unsubscribe in one click. Want alerts on specific bills? Create an account.
Who cares
Headline styles
Teach About Comfort Women
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to education
- Referred to education
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1472
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 9, 2017
Introduced by Sen. AVELLA -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to requiring courses of instruction to include information on "comfort women"
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The opening paragraph of subdivision 1 and subdivision 3 of section 801 of the education law, as amended by chapter 574 of the laws of 1997, are amended to read as follows:
In order to promote a spirit of patriotic and civic service and obligation and to foster in the children of the state moral and intellectual qualities which are essential in preparing to meet the obligations of citizenship in peace or in war, the regents of The University of the State of New York shall prescribe courses of instruction in patriotism, citizenship, and human rights issues, with particular attention to the study of the inhumanity of genocide, slavery (including the freedom trail and underground railroad), the Holocaust, violence against women during periods of armed conflict (including the comfort women of the second world war), and the mass starvation in Ireland from 1845 to 1850, to be maintained and followed in all the schools of the state. The boards of education and trustees of the several cities and school districts of the state shall require instruction to be given in such courses, by the teachers employed in the schools therein. All pupils attending such schools, over the age of eight years, shall attend upon such instruction.
3. The regents shall determine the subjects to be included in such courses of instruction in patriotism, citizenship, and human rights issues, with particular attention to the study of the inhumanity of genocide, slavery (including the freedom trail and underground railroad), the Holocaust, violence against women during periods of armed conflict (including the comfort women of the second world war), and the
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00592-01-7
S. 1472 2
mass starvation in Ireland from 1845 to 1850, and in the history, meaning, significance and effect of the provisions of the constitution of the United States, the amendments thereto, the declaration of independence, the constitution of the state of New York and the amendments thereto, and the period of instruction in each of the grades in such subjects. They shall adopt rules providing for attendance upon such instruction and for such other matters as are required for carrying into effect the objects and purposes of this section. The commissioner shall be responsible for the enforcement of such section and shall cause to be inspected and supervise the instruction to be given in such subjects. The commissioner may, in his or her discretion, cause all or a portion of the public school money to be apportioned to a district or city to be withheld for failure of the school authorities of such district or city to provide instruction in such courses and to compel attendance upon such instruction, as herein prescribed, and for a non-compliance with the rules of the regents adopted as herein provided.
§ 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2019.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the education law, in relation to requiring courses of instruction to include information on "comfort women"
Purpose or general idea of bill
The purpose of the bill is to facilitate the teaching of an unbiased and factual account of events that occurred during World War II involving the Comfort Women.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 of the bill amends subdivisions 1 and 3 of section 801 of the education law by amending the opening paragraphs to include curriculum instruction on violence against women during periods of armed conflict including the comfort women of the second world war.
Section 2 of the bill sets an effective date of the July 1, 2019.
Justification
The purpose of this legislation is to facilitate the teaching of an unbiased and factual account of events that occurred during World War II. It is important to ensure that events such as those that occurred in relation to the "comfort women" are accurately reflected in the text-books we use to teach our students.
During World War II, the Imperial Japanese Army forced thousands of women to prostitute themselves for the benefit of the Emperor's troops in Korea and other nations. There have been recent efforts to deny the existence of this human rights atrocity and to blame it on alleged "racial conflicts" and efforts to harass the people of Japan. These attempts to deny or minimize such historic events make it necessary to provide an unbiased and factual account of these issues to our students.
It is also important to make sure this history is taught in light of the increasing amount of sex trafficking that is happening within the United States as well as throughout the world.
It is the responsibility of the legislature to make sure that the history of the "comfort women" is not ignored and to shed light on the continuing victimization of women and men that has a long and torturous legacy dating back many thousands of years.
Prior legislative history
2015-16: S.714-A 2013-14: S.7759-A
Fiscal implications for state and local governments
None known.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on July 1, 2019.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.