“A Hokkaido man in his 70s plans to file a lawsuit seeking damages from the government over his forced sterilization at around age 20 under the 1948 eugenic protection law, sources said Thursday, as a related investigation unearthed documents showing children aged 15 and below — including one as young as 9 — were also sterilized under the law.”
“Hokkaido’s record of compulsory sterilizations over nearly five decades far outstrips any other jurisdiction in Japan, with at least 2,593 people forced to undergo the procedure due to intellectual disability”
“The Fukushima prefectural government had earlier told Kyodo News it held no such records but said Tuesday it had found the documents listing the names, ages and illnesses of 33 men and 87 women, of whom 68 were under 20 years old.
The documents included applications for surgeries and notices about the operations. All of the 120 are believed to have undergone sterilization without consent.”
“A Health and Welfare Ministry notice in 1953 said that sterilization surgery approved by a eugenics protection review board could be carried out even if the subjects of the operation opposed it — allowing for the use of physical restraints, anesthesia and deception to get them to accept the surgery.”
“Of the 859 individuals, 320 were male and 535 were female. The gender and age of four individuals were not included. Among the males, 191 were minors. Among the females, 257 were minors.
In total, 745 individuals were listed as having genetic intellectual disabilities.
According to a citizens group seeking an apology from the government, 16,500 or so individuals across Japan underwent forced sterilization.”
“Of all the sterilizations conducted, about 16,500 surgeries were reportedly conducted without consent.
From Saturday 3rd February 2018, lawyers involved with the legal suit will be available for counseling at 022-397-7960.”
“ “We wanted to stand up and build a society where even people with disabilities can have a happy life.”
The woman seeks compensation of 11 million yen ($101,149), saying the government should have set up relief measures for those subjected to the surgery, in recompense for violating their human rights.”
“Thousands of people with hereditary diseases, mental illnesses and intellectual disabilities were sterilized across Japan between 1949 and 1992 under the Eugenic Protection Law aimed at “preventing the birth of inferior offspring.””
“SENDAI – A woman in her 60s will sue the government for being forced to undergo sterilization on the grounds of her intellectual disability, according to informed sources.”
Barrier Free Japan