Gender Equality Minister Cho Youn-sun on Friday urged the Japanese government to officially provide an apology and compensation to surviving sex slaves from World War II.

“I urge that the responsible government recognize its legal liability and take appropriate measures acceptable to the victims, as recommended by UN human rights mechanisms,” the minister said at a meeting of the United Nation’s Third Committee held in New York.

Cho also presented testimony of wartime Korean comfort women and explained how they were conscripted as sex slaves for the Japanese military and how they survived.

More than 100,000 women are estimated to have been drafted to the Japanese military as sex slaves during the war. Only 56 of them are still alive, Cho said in her speech to the Third Committee, adding that Japan should take legal responsibility immediately. She also urged member countries to make concerted efforts to fight against sexual violence and protect women’s rights particularly in belligerent nations and disputed territories.

The Third Committee is a part of the U.N. committee that addresses and discusses social, humanitarian and cultural issues around the world.

Later in the afternoon, Cho met with Nicole Ameline, chairperson of the U.N. Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, and Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, head of U.N. Women, to discuss strengthening the partnership with the Korean government to seek ways to promote gender equality.

By Cho Chung-un
(christory@heraldcorp.com)