Japanese Government Presents Draft Agreement for Lawsuits over Forced Sterilization

From NHK

August 20 2024

TOKYO – In lawsuits still ongoing across the country over people who were forced to undergo sterilization under the old Eugenic Protection Law, the government has presented the defense team with a basic settlement proposal that includes paying 15 million yen in compensation to each plaintiff. The government and the defense team are making final adjustments and are expected to reach a formal basic agreement soon.

In a lawsuit filed by people who were forced to undergo sterilization under the old Eugenic Protection Law against the government, the Supreme Court handed down a ruling in July ordering the government to pay compensation for violating the constitution, and the government and the Diet are continuing to consider ways to provide compensation to the victims.

So far, 39 people have filed lawsuits across the country over the old Eugenic Protection Law, and about 20 people are still in court, but the defense team is negotiating with the government to reach an early resolution, and according to the defense team and the government, the government presented the defense team with a basic settlement proposal during negotiations on the 20th.

The draft basic agreement reportedly includes provisions for the government to apologize to the plaintiffs, and for plaintiffs who have had surgery and for whom no ruling has been made by the district court, a settlement will be reached by paying 15 million yen in compensation to the individual and 2 million yen to their spouse.

However, if a married couple are plaintiffs, the total will be 15 million yen.

Also, if a district court has made a ruling ordering the government to pay compensation, the settlement will be for that amount.

The government and the legal team are making final adjustments and are expected to reach a formal basic agreement soon.

Meanwhile, debate is continuing in the Diet about a compensation law that will include people who have not filed a lawsuit, with the legal team calling for 15 million yen to be paid to the victim and 5 million yen to their spouse.