Promotion of Resolution for Issues concerning Victims of Wartime Sexual Coercion Act (Bill)(Unofficial translation)
Introduced to the House of the Councilors jointly by the Democratic Party of Japan, theJapanese Communist Party and the Social Democratic Party on Mar.21st &Nov.14th 2001.
(Objectives)
Article 1:
In view of the fact that prior to and during World War II, with the involvement of the Imperial
Japanese Army and Navy, organized and prolonged coercion of sexual acts were carried out
against women and, because of such coercion, the dignity and honor of the women wereseverely violated and considering that it is the imperative task for the nation of Japan, under
its responsibility to take quick steps to restore the honor of the women, the objectives of thisAct lie in providing the necessary fundamental grounds for the resolution of the issues
concerning the victims of wartime sexual coercion and, by doing so, in improving thetrustworthy relationship between the peoples of the concerned nations and our people and in
making it possible for our country to occupy an honored place in international society.
(Definitions)
Article 2:
In this act, "wartime sexual coercion" means the act of organized and prolonged sexual
coercion of women, who were recruited against their will with direct or indirect involvementof the imperial army and navy before and during the past World War, as well as a series of
military actions including incidents prior to it.
2 In this Act, "victims of wartime sexual coercion" are the women who have suffered fromsexual coercion during the wartime and are not those who had a permanent domicile,registered under Koseki-ho (Act no. 26 of the 3rd year of Taisho),(Measures to Restore Honor)
Article 3:
The government must singularly express an apology for the violation of the honor and dignityof the victims of wartime sexual coercion and implement necessary measures to restore theirhonor as soon as possible.
2 The measures in the preceding paragraph shall include monetary payment to the victims ofwartime sexual coercion.
(Fundamental Policies)
Article 4:
The government must establish fundamental policies on measures for the resolution of theissues concerning the victims of wartime sexual coercion (“the fundamental policies”
hereafter).
2 The fundamental policies shall prescribe the following terms.
(1) The terms concerning the contents of the measures and the methods of theirimplementation as stated in the previous Article.
(2) The terms concerning the matters such as negotiations with the concerned states thatwould be necessary to implement the measures as stated in the previous Article.
(3) The terms concerning the investigation of yet to be uncovered circumstances of wartime
sexual coercion and the damages caused by them.
(4) Other than the terms as stated in these three paragraphs, the terms that are necessary foracceleration of a resolution with regard to the victims of wartime sexual coercion.
3 Whenever the government establishes fundamental policies or implements changes inexisting fundamental policies, it shall report them to the Diet and make them public.
(Care for Relationship with the Governments of the Concerned States)
Article 5:In implementation of the measures as stated in Article 3, bearing in mind the relationshipwith the international treaties and other international agreements that our country has
concluded, the government shall exercise special care for its process, in discussing the matterswith the governments and other authorities of the concerned states, and securing theirunderstanding and cooperation.
(Care for Human Rights of Victims of Wartime Sexual coercion)
Article 6:
In implementation of the measures as stated in Article 3, the government, bearing in mind
the intention of the victims of wartime sexual coercion, shall fully exercise care for their
human rights.
2 In carrying out the investigation as stated in Article 4, Paragraph 2, (3), the government
shall exercise care not to violate the honor of the victims of wartime sexual coercion and ofother concerned individuals.
(People's Recognition and Understanding)
Article 7:
In implementation of the measures as stated in Article 3, the government shall try to securerecognition of and understanding for the measures among the general public(Measures including Budget)
Article 8:
The government shall secure the budgetary, legal or other measures that are necessary for thepromotion of a resolution of the issues concerning the victims of wartime sexual coercion.
(Report to the Diet)
Article 9:Every year, the government shall report to the Diet on the measures that it has implemented
for the resolution of the issues concerning the victims of wartime sexual coercion and on thefindings produced by the investigation as stated in Article 4, Paragraph 2, (3) and it shall also
publicly announce the summary of the report.
(Council for Promotion of Resolution for Issues concerning Victims of Wartime SexualCoercion)
Article 10:
The Council for Promotion of Resolution for Issues concerning Victims of Wartime SexualCoercion (the “Council”, hereafter) shall be established at Naikakuhu (the Ministry of theCabinet).
2 The Council has the following administrative functions.
(1) To outline the draft fundamental policies.
(2) To arrange the necessary coordination of the pertinent administrative institutions
regarding measures to resolve issues concerning the victims of wartime sexual coercion.
(3) To promote the investigation in accordance with Article 4, Paragraph 2, (3).
(4) Other than stated in the previous three sub-paragraphs, to examine important mattersregarding the promotion of the resolution of issues concerning the victims of wartime sexualcoercion and to promote the implementation of pertinent measures relative to them.
3 The Council, when it considers it necessary to carry out the business within its mandate,
may ask the heads of concerned administrative authorities and concerned local authorities tocooperate in the submission of documents, clarification of materials and so on.
4 The Council, when it considers it necessary to carry out business within its mandate, may
request the necessary cooperation of any persons other than those stated in the previousparagraph.
(Organization of the Council)
Article 11:

The Council consists of a President and Council Members.
2 The Prime Minister shall appoint the President.
3 The Prime Minister shall appoint the Council Members from among the Chief Cabinet
Minister, the heads of the pertinent administrative authorities and Ministers with the special
mandate stipulated in Article 9, 1 of the Establishment of Cabinet Act.
(Committee for Promotion of the Investigation)
Article 12:
The Committee for Promotion of the Investigation shall be set up under the Council in order
to authorize it to carry out the tasks stated in Article 10, 2 (3).
2 The Committee for Promotion of the Investigation, regularly or whenever necessary, shallformulate the progress of the investigation as well as its results in accordance with Article 4,Paragraph 2, (3) and report them to the President.
3 The Prime Minister shall appoint the Members of the Committee for Promotion of theInvestigation from among those staff of the pertinent administrative authorities with theappropriate knowledge, expertise, and experience.
(Delegated Legislation by Ordinances)
Article 13:
In addition to what has been stated in the three previous articles, necessary mechanisms
concerning the organization and management of the Council shall be legislated by ordinances.
Additional Clauses(Omitted)