In Japan, a woman who was forcibly sterilized more than 20 years ago has won $104,000 from the state

Photo: Lawyers at a press conference after a 60-year-old woman reached a settlement with the government over her forced sterilization/09.24.2024/mainichi.jp

An unnamed woman in Japan has sued the government for 15 million yen in damages over her forced sterilization. At that time, this operation took place under the infamous eugenics law, writes The Mainichi.

Under this law, sterilization of people with intellectual disabilities, mental illnesses or hereditary disorders was permitted without their consent in order to prevent the birth of “inferior” offspring.

Under the eugenics law, about 25 thousand people were sterilized in Japan, of which 16 thousand were without consent, that is, by force.

By the decision of the Sendai High Court on Tuesday, September 24, the first woman to suffer will receive 15 million yen ($104,000) in compensation for the actual violence the state committed against her.

The decision also stated that the 20-year statute of limitations does not apply to cases related to the Eugenics Law, which was in effect between 1948 and 1996.

And the law itself has been declared unconstitutional for the first time.

A total of 39 people have filed lawsuits on this issue. The Supreme Court has already awarded compensation to the victims in five of these cases.

The government has agreed to pay them 15 million yen each.

Prepared by: Sergey Daga