UNHRC urges Japan to give redress to WWII "comfort women"

The UN Human Rights Council has urged Japan to resolve the issue of the use of sexual slaves during the Second World War. This recommendation comes as part of the Universal Periodic Review to the Japanese delegation on the human rights condition in the country. The report includes recommendations for the Japanese government to act responsibly, and provide redress to the former "comfort women". It also asks the Japanese government to apologize to the victims. Although the recommendations in the UPR report are not legally binding, Japan must submit a refutation to the Human Rights Council’s assembly in March next year. The report was adopted after a UN regular investigation conference earlier in the week. Altogether seven countries, including China, South Korea, and Democratic People’s Republic of Korea expressed their concerns over the comfort women during the investigation conference. The report gives more than 170 recommendations on gender inequality and the basic rights of women and children in Japan.