PERMANENT MISSION OF THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA GENEVA
Consideration of UPR Report of Japan <Check against delivery>
Geneva, 14 March, 2013
Statement of the Republic of Korea
Thank you, Mr. President,The Republic of Korea appreciates Japan’s commitment to the protection and promotion of human rights and welcomes its efforts to strengthen the institutional framework for the advancement of women’s rights including the adoption of the Third Basic Plan for Gender Equality .
Mr. President,
At the UPR Working Group for Japan which was held on 31 October last year, my delegation recommended that the Japanese Government recognize its legal responsibility for the issue of the so-called ‘comfort women’, victims who were forced into sexual slavery for the Japanese Army during the Second World War and take appropriate measures acceptable to the victims as recommended by the international community.
My delegation also would like to remind of the concerns raised by the various UN human rights mechanisms and relevant stakeholders that Japan has not taken sincere measures to address this issue. It is deeply regrettable that Japanese Government did not accept this recommendation. This case still remains unresolved.
Within this context, my delegation would like to once again urge the Japanese Government to accept legal responsibility and take appropriate measures acceptable to the victims as recommended by the international community.
Thank you, Mr. President. /End/
