Japan: Resolution of the 9th Asia Solidarity Conference on the Issue of the Military Sexual Slavery by Japan

Pursuant to resolutions passed last year by the Congresses and Parliaments of the United States, the Netherlands, Canada and the EU, the Covenants on Civil and Political Rights (CCPR) Committee recently published its observation with recommendations to Japan while the Parliaments of South Korea and Taiwan have recently passed resolutions respectively calling for an official apology and state compensation from Japan. The pressure from the international society is mounting.

In Japan also, the city councils of Takarazuka in February, of Kiyose in June and of Sapporo, an ordinance-designated big city, on November 7th, 2008, passed resolutions calling for cabinet decisions for truth finding, apology and compensation for the recovery of victim’s dignity, as well as history education.

The Japanese government, however, gives no sign of listening, repeating the same old arguments that the apology was already made by the Kono Statement, and that moral responsibility has been satisfied through the Asian Women’s Fund, as if the military sexual slavery issue were resolved.

Meanwhile survivors are fast advancing in age, still suffering the pains of complications from the damage in the days of sexual slavery. Due to the delay of apology and compensation by the Japanese government, the situation has developed into the even more painful one to the survivors. With so many difficulties, survivors have been fighting fiercely in pursuit of justice from Japan.

All the participants of the 9th Solidarity Conference express their deep respect to the survivors for their unrelenting struggle of many years. We also reconfirm our solidarity in our demand to the Government of Japan and the Diet of Japan.

--- Demand to the Government of Japan and the Diet of Japan ---

1. The Government of Japan should acknowledge the fact that from 1930’s throughout the World War II, the Imperial Armed Forces of Japan recruited girls and young women and forced them into sexual slavery in Asia Pacific region and should apologize officially to the victims and survivors.

2. The Government of Japan should establish an administrative and legislative system immediately to realize official apology and compensation with regard to the victim-survivors while the survivors are still alive.

3. The Government of Japan should not tolerate any language in denial of the so-called "comfort women” system. The Government should take a firm stand and refute those arguments officially.

4. The Government of Japan should include the fact of sexual slavery in school text books and educate the present and future generation to prevent the recurrence of similar crimes.

5. The Government of Japan and the Diet of Japan should enact a law specifically made for materialization of fact finding, the official apology, and state compensation to victim-survivors of the sexual slavery as soon as possible.

--- Action Plan ---

1. We will exert all efforts in solidarity to have the Japanese government listen to the voices of international community and enact a law for the official apology and compensation.

2. We further strengthen internationally coordinated actions to win recommendations at the 44th CEDAW Committee and the ILO Conference in summer of 2009.

3. We help each other by supporting campaigns and projects of advocacy groups to help survivors in different countries. Along with these movements, we will work to raise the awareness of history, to pass the remembrance to the next generation with the final goal of realizing the world where no violence against women shall be tolerated.

4. We welcome the resolutions of various countries and Japanese city councils, as well as the CCPR recommendations. We will act in solidarity to have the Japanese government implement those resolutions and recommendations

5. We employ every possible legal and peaceful means to work on the Japanese government, so it will listen to the voices of the survivors and the international community, and to pass a legislation to make official apology and compensation.

6. We strongly demand the Japanese government to take a firm stand that will not tolerate any denial of Japan’s military sexual slavery.

7. We promote international solidarity actions and work towards winning recommendations at the 44th CEDAW Committee and the ILO Conference in 2009.

8. We help each other by supporting campaigns and projects of advocacy groups to help survivors in different countries. In solidarity with these movements, we promote the recognition of history, passing of the remembrance to the next generation with the final goal of realizing the world where no violence against women shall be tolerated.

November 23, 2008

--Participants of the 9th Asian Solidarity Conference for the issue of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan