Sexual slavery for the Imperial Japanese Army is one of the most acute issues of the past history, the statement said, and went on:

There are lots of data proving the Imperial Japanese Army's involvement in transfer and control over women.

What victims testified was most important evidence. This is backed by official documents and testimonies by other people. Clear is that not a few women were subject to horrible monstrosity.

Shunning pain of victims and handling the sexual slavery issue in one's own interests will make the international solution of the issue all the more difficult and put more unbearable insult on victims.

Japan's denial and negation of pain sustained by the victims can never be tolerated.

Japan should not just talk about human rights and humanitarianism but show respect for them in action and admit its sexual slavery in the past.