Chief Cabinet Secretary of Japan Yoshihide Suga expressed on Friday deep regret over the report of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, which criticized Japan's approach to tackling the issue of World War II-era forced prostitution.
TOKYO (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 31st August, 2018) Chief Cabinet Secretary of Japan Yoshihide Suga expressed on Friday deep regret over the report of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, which criticized Japan's approach to tackling the issue of World War II-era forced prostitution.
The report, issued on Thursday, accused Japan of not doing enough to resolve the "comfort women" issue, and called on Japan to accept responsibility for its role in violating women's human rights during WWII.
"It is especially regrettable that the recommendations were issued without taking into account explanations provided by the Japanese government. Japanese Ambassador to the UN Mission in Geneva Ken Okaniwa sent a note of protest to the UN high commissioner for human rights," Suga said at a press conference.
Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono pointed out that the "comfort women" issue had already been resolved.
"Comfort women" is a term used to describe women forced to work in wartime brothels for the Japanese military during World War II. With the exact number of women involved in the practice still the subject of debate, most of the women were taken from countries occupied by Japan between 1932 and 1945, mainly Korea, China, and the Philippines.
In December 2015, Japan and South Korea reached a deal on the issue, ending the long-standing diplomatic feud over wartime sexual slavery. Both sides agreed to set up a foundation for sexually enslaved Korean women. Under the deal, the Japanese government provided 1 billion Yen ($8.8 million) in support for the surviving victims and their families.
