Japan – 3 sue gov’t over forced sterilizations, abortion under former eugenics law

3 sue gov't over forced sterilizations, abortion under former eugenics law

June 28, 2018 (Mainichi Japan)

SAPPORO/KUMAMOTO -- A Hokkaido couple and a Kumamoto Prefecture man sued the Japanese government on June 28 over forced sterilizations and abortion under the now defunct eugenics protection law (1948-1996) for violating their constitutional right to the pursuit of happiness and their reproductive rights.

The cases filed in the Kumamoto and Sapporo district courts call for a total of 55 million yen in compensation from the central government. The plaintiffs also argue that the government and the Diet failed to take measures to aid victims after the eugenics law was revised in 1996 to become the current Maternal Health Act.

Continued: https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20180628/p2a/00m/0na/001000c