In a highly unusual move, the lower house of the Dutch parliament passed a motion unanimously on Tuesday, urging Japan to financially compensate the women forced into sex slavery during World War II (WWII).

This is the first time a national parliament has endorsed a motion calling for a thorough redressing of the sufferings of the so-called "comfort women" before and during WWII.

The motion requests the Dutch government ask Japan to "refrain from any declaration that will devalue the 1993 declaration of remorse" made by then Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yohei Kono.