Japan's Top Court Declares Forced Sterilisation Unconstitutional
Japan's Supreme Court is set to rule on a defunct eugenics law that led to the forced sterilization of approximately 16,500 individuals between 1948 and 1996. The court is currently hearing five appeal cases from victims seeking compensation and an apology. The law allowed doctors to sterilize people with inheritable intellectual disabilities to prevent the birth of what were considered "poor quality" descendants. An additional 8,500 individuals were sterilized with their consent, although lawyers suggest these cases were likely coerced due to societal pressures.
Critics argue that the law fostered discriminatory attitudes towards people with disabilities. The government formally apologized in 2019 and passed legislation providing a lump-sum payment of 3.2 million yen per victim. However, survivors claim this amount is insufficient to compensate for their suffering and have pursued legal action. The court's decision on the constitutionality of the law and the statute of limitations for compensation claims could have significant implications for the victims' quest for justice.
