Disabled People International Japan Branch to Hold ‘Online Rally’ on “Prisoners with Disabilities and the Right to Use Wheelchairs”

By Barrier Free Japan

February 26 2025

GIFU – The Japan Branch of the NPO Disabled People’ International (DPI), located in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, will hold an online rally on the theme of “Prisoners with disabilities and their right to use wheelchairs” on Saturday, April 5, 2025.

The rally is being held in response to a ruling handed down in a lawsuit seeking ‘reasonable accommodation’ in Gifu, a lawsuit concerning an alleged human rights violation in which an inmate with walking difficulties was denied wheelchair access at Gifu Prison for over 10 years.

On October 30, 2024, the Gifu District Court did not recognize the denial of wheelchair access as illegal and ruled against the plaintiff.

DPI argues that this ruling ignores the obligation to provide reasonable accommodation as stipulated in the Act in the Elimination of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities, and may have a serious impact on future judicial decisions. this rally will discuss efforts toward the appeal trial at the high court.

Lawyer Teppei Ono (Legal Terrace Aichi Law Office, Secretary General of the NPO Prison Human Rights Center) will explain the history of the lawsuit and future prospects. DPI says that outcome of this trial will have a significant impact on the basic human rights of people with disabilities and the nature of the Disability Discrimination Elimination Act and it hopes that many people will participate and listen to the voices of the parties involved.