Whereas, the Government of Japan, during its colonial and wartime occupation of Asia and the Pacific Islands from the 1930s through the duration of World War II, officially commissioned the acquisition of young women for the sole purpose of sexual slavery to its Imperial Armed Forces, who became known to the world as ianfu or ‘comfort women’; and

Whereas, the ‘comfort women’ system of forced military prostitution by the Government of Japan, considered unprecedented in its cruelty and magnitude is one of the largest cases of human trafficking in the 20^th century; and

Whereas, some new textbooks used in Japanese schools seek to downplay the ‘comfort women’ tragedy and other Japanese war crimes during World War II; and

Whereas, Japanese public and private officials have recently expressed a desire to dilute or rescind the 1993 statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Yohei Kono on the ‘comfort women’, which expressed the Government’s sincere apologies and remorse for their ordeal; and

Whereas, the House of Representatives commends Japan’s efforts to promote human security, human rights, democratic values, and rule of law, as well as for being a supporter of Security Council Resolution 1325; and

Whereas, the Government of Japan did sign the 1921 International Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic of Women and Children and supported the 2000 United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace, and Security which recognized the unique impact of armed conflict on women; and

Whereas, the City of Glendale commends the United States Congress House of Representatives Resolution 121 and joins with their recommendations that the Government of Japan should educate current and future generations about this horrible crime while following the recommendations of the international community with respect to the ‘comfort women’.

                                   Now, therefore, I, Frank Quintero, Mayor of the City of  Glendale, proclaim July 30, 2012, as

                     Korean Comfort Women Day

and extend our profound hope that bringing these atrocities to light will serve as a grave reminder to the world that crimes against humanity will not be condoned or tolerated.

Frank Quintero, Mayor

              July 31, 2012