They were kidnapped from homes across Asia and raped repeatedly by Japanese soldiers during the Second World War.
Now in their eighties, the women -- referred to as "comfort women" by their Japanese captors -- are fighting back against the atrocities that were inflicted on them seven decades ago.
On Tuesday, four of the women were in Ottawa hoping to get federal politicians on board as they demanded a formal apology from the Japanese government.
Japan insists that the government has said sorry and offered money long ago to the 200,000 women and girls -- some as young as 12 -- who were used as sex slaves by the military from 1932 to 1945.
The U.S. Congress recently asked for a formal apology from Japan's parliament, and now MPs here in Canada are backing a similar resolution.
"Sexual slavery is a crime against humanity and I just think we have the moral responsibility to speak out," New Democrat MP Olivia Chow told Â鶹´«Ã½.
The Japanese, though, are lobbying hard against a formal apology. Ten days ago, their prime minister even called Prime Minister Stephen Harper to argue that his country has already done enough.
But the women maintain that Japan has not done enough to satisfy the victims, and pleaded with MPs not to let the issue die.
The women -- who traveled to Canada from China, Korea, the Philippines, and the Netherlands -- told politicians in Ottawa that the matter has not been settled.
They said their injuries from war haven't healed and recalled the horrific events they endured during the war.
One of the women said she was only 14 when she was impregnated by one of the soldiers who raped her. The fact that she was carrying a baby didn't stop the rapes from occurring repeatedly.
Ellen van der Ploeg was living in Java when the Japanese occupiers labeled her as a prostitute.
"We were there for the pleasure of the Japanese soldiers," said van der Ploeg.
"After 62 years, I'm still waiting for my salary."
With a report from CTV's Roger Smith in Ottawa
