Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare Reports 3,079 Cases of Abuse Against Disabled Confirmed by Local Governments in 2022, Highest Recorded Number

From Jiji 

December 20 2023

TOKYO – The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare announced on December 20th that the number of cases of abuse against people with disabilities confirmed by prefectures and municipalities in fiscal 2022 was 3,079, an increase of 386 from the previous year, setting a new record high. The incident appears to have come to light partly because the government is requiring businesses to take measures to prevent abuse through the revision of remuneration for disability welfare services.

By perpetrator, 2,123 cases were committed by caregivers such as family members or cohabitants (an increase of 129 cases compared to the previous year), and 956 cases were committed by facility staff (an increase of 257 cases compared to the previous year). In all cases, physical abuse such as assault was the most common, followed by psychological abuse such as verbal abuse.