In the wake of abuse cases of people with disabilities, Hokkaido Prefectural Government to survey all facilities in January 2023

From The Asahi Shimbun via Yahoo! Japan

December 21 2022

HOKKAIDO – At a facility for the mentally disabled operated by the Asunaro Fukushikai, a social welfare corporation in the town of Esashi, Hokkaido, if men and women using the facility wanted to get married or live together, the organization offered sterilization treatment. It was decided that in January next year, a survey of all facilities in Hokkaido would be conducted to see if there were similar cases at other facilities, Governor Naomichi Suzuki announced to reporters in Tokyo on the evening of December 20th.

In response to the revelation in December that staff members at facilities for the disabled and elderly in the province had abused users one after another, the province will conduct an urgent survey on abuse at all facilities in the province in January next year. A survey on sterilisation will also be conducted in conjunction with this.

Governor Suzuki said, “If it is confirmed that the operators are not providing proper welfare services for persons with disabilities, we will consider necessary measures such as recommendations and orders based on the Comprehensive Support for Persons with Disabilities Act”.

The Health and Welfare Section for Persons with Disabilities of the Hokkaido Prefectural Government is hearing from Chairman Hidetoshi Higuchi and others about the circumstances of the infertility treatment at Asunaro Fukushikai. In the future, they will also interview the users who underwent the procedure and their families.