Secondly, we are deeply pained to think of the comfort women who experienced ...

Secondly, we are deeply pained to think of the comfort women who experienced immeasurable pain and suffering. Japan has extended its sincere apologies and remorse to all those women on various occasions. We established the Asian Women's Fund in the 1990s to offer atonement to former comfort women. At this juncture, Japan's position is that this issue should not be politicized or be turned into a diplomatic issue. Throughout history, women's dignity and basic human rights have often been infringed upon during the many wars of the past. The Government of Japan attaches paramount importance to women's dignity and basic human rights and is committed to doing its utmost to ensure that the twenty-first century is free from further such violations.