Maria Rosa Henson

About the Author

Maria Rosa Henson was a courageous Filipina activist and author whose life story became a powerful testament to resilience in the face of unimaginable hardship. Born in 1927 in the Philippines, she endured the horrors of sexual slavery as a 'comfort woman' during the Japanese occupation in World War II, an experience she bravely documented to break the silence surrounding wartime atrocities. Henson's memoir, Comfort Woman: A Filipina's Story of Prostitution and Slavery under the Japanese Military (Asian Voices), published in 1999, not only chronicled her personal trauma but also ignited global awareness and advocacy for survivors' rights. As a founding member of the Malaya Lolas organization, she fought tirelessly for justice and reparations until her passing in 1997, leaving a legacy of empowerment and historical truth-telling that continues to inspire.