Supporters of surviving wartime sex slaves praised a U.S. congressional committee's Tuesday approval of a resolution calling on Japan to officially apologize.
Several groups said Wednesday they hope the House of Representatives passes the resolution next month as scheduled and more pressure is put on Tokyo to act.
"We aren't rejoicing because nothing has really been accomplished yet. But it's a step forward," said Yoko Shiba of Japan Action Network for the Issue of Military Sexual Slavery, an umbrella organization comprising 17 human rights groups supporting legal action against the government by former "comfort women" from South Korea, China, Taiwan, the Philippines and other areas.