[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 121 Introduced in House (IH)]







110th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 121

     Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the 
Government of Japan should formally acknowledge, apologize, and accept 
  historical responsibility in a clear and unequivocal manner for its 
  Imperial Armed Force's coercion of young women into sexual slavery, 
   known to the world as ``comfort women'', during its colonial and 
   wartime occupation of Asia and the Pacific Islands from the 1930s 
                 through the duration of World War II.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 31, 2007

Mr. Honda (for himself, Mr. Smith of New Jersey, Mr. Royce, Ms. Watson, 
Mr. Hare, Ms. Bordallo, and Mr. Wu) submitted the following resolution; 
         which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
     Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the 
Government of Japan should formally acknowledge, apologize, and accept 
  historical responsibility in a clear and unequivocal manner for its 
  Imperial Armed Force's coercion of young women into sexual slavery, 
   known to the world as ``comfort women'', during its colonial and 
   wartime occupation of Asia and the Pacific Islands from the 1930s 
                 through the duration of World War II.

Whereas the Government of Japan, during its colonial and wartime occupation of 
        Asia and the Pacific Islands from the 1930s through the duration of 
        World War II, officially commissioned the acquisition of young women for 
        the sole purpose of sexual servitude to its Imperial Armed Forces, who 
        became known to the world as ianfu or ``comfort women'';
Whereas the ``comfort women'' system of forced military prostitution by the 
        Government of Japan, considered unprecedented in its cruelty and 
        magnitude, included gang rape, forced abortions, humiliation, and sexual 
        violence resulting in mutilation, death, or eventual suicide in one of 
        the largest cases of human trafficking in the 20th century;
Whereas some new textbooks used in Japanese schools seek to downplay the 
        ``comfort women'' tragedy and other Japanese war crimes during World War 
        II;
Whereas Japanese public and private officials have recently expressed a desire 
        to dilute or rescind the 1993 statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Yohei 
        Kono on the ``comfort women'', which expressed the Government's sincere 
        apologies and remorse for their ordeal;
Whereas the Government of Japan did sign the 1921 International Convention for 
        the Suppression of the Traffic in Women and Children and supported the 
        2000 United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace, 
        and Security which recognized the unique impact of armed conflict on 
        women;
Whereas the House of Representatives commends Japan's efforts to promote human 
        security, human rights, democratic values, and rule of law, as well as 
        for being a supporter of Security Council Resolution 1325;
Whereas the House of Representatives commends those Japanese officials and 
        private citizens whose hard work and compassion resulted in the 
        establishment in 1995 of Japan's private Asian Women's Fund;
Whereas the Asian Women's Fund has raised $5,700,000 to extend ``atonement'' 
        from the Japanese people to the comfort women; and
Whereas the mandate of the Asian Women's Fund, a government initiated and 
        largely government-funded private foundation whose purpose was the 
        carrying out of programs and projects with the aim of atonement for the 
        maltreatment and suffering of the ``comfort women'', comes to an end on 
        March 31, 2007, and the Fund is to be disbanded as of that date: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved,  That it is the sense of the House of Representatives 
that the Government of Japan--
            (1) should formally acknowledge, apologize, and accept 
        historical responsibility in a clear and unequivocal manner for 
        its Imperial Armed Force's coercion of young women into sexual 
        slavery, known to the world as ``comfort women'', during its 
        colonial and wartime occupation of Asia and the Pacific Islands 
        from the 1930s through the duration of World War II;
            (2) should have this official apology given as a public 
        statement presented by the Prime Minister of Japan in his 
        official capacity;
            (3) should clearly and publicly refute any claims that the 
        sexual enslavement and trafficking of the ``comfort women'' for 
        the Japanese Imperial Armed Forces never occurred; and
            (4) should educate current and future generations about 
        this horrible crime while following the recommendations of the 
        international community with respect to the ``comfort women''.
                                 <all>