Apology to Victims of Sterilization Surgery

The victims of national policy for forced sterilization signed on an agreement with the government of Japan, in which the government expressed sincere regret and heartfelt apology. The Supreme Court found in July that the sterilization policy had been the largest violation of human rights in post-war Japan. Lawmakers in the Diet beyond party line presented a draft of legislature of relieving measures for the victims, which is expected to be submitted to the extraordinary Diet session in this fall. 

Under notorious Eugene Protection Law, the government promoted sterilization surgery in medical institutes to prevent births of “no-good descendants.” Victims amounted twenty-five thousand. The Supreme Court decided in July that the law was unconstitutional, violating Article 13 for human dignity and Article 14 for equality under laws, and the government would not be able to escape from its responsibility.

 

Fumio Kishida administration decided to compensate for the wrong policy by the government in the past and offered 15 million yen for each recipient of sterilization surgery. “The government will make its best effort to terminate eugenic concept and discrimination against disabled people for achieving a society in which people would no divided based on possession of disease or handicap and human dignity would be respected,” said the signed confirmation document.

 

“Responsibility of the government is extremely significant,” said Minister for Children Policies, Ayuko Kato. One of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit demanded full compensation for all the victims, saying “There are many victims who cannot raise their voice.”

 

The working team for this issue in the multi-partisan group of lawmakers disclosed their draft for new law for relief the victims. The Supreme Court ordered the government to pay 15 million yen to each of whom being coerced sterilization and 2 million yen for their spouses. The team offered 15 million to the victim, 5 million to their spouse and 2 million to the recipient of abortion surgery.

 

The law will be applied to the victim’s spouses who maintained their marriage from the day of sterilization surgery to when Eugene Protection Act was replaced by new law. The compensation can be inherited by siblings. Children and Families Agency is going to determine who will be applied to the compensation. Lawyers will support the application of the victims.

 

Reaching the end of term, Kishida administration seems to accelerate its effort to compensate for past mismanagement of policies. As a lawmaker elected in Hiroshima, Kishida tried to expand the recipient of governmental support for hibakusha in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. He apologized to the victim of Minamata disease when the government showed inappropriate attitude in a meeting with the victims. Kishida seems to be serious about making his legacy by settling long-time disputes.

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