Japanese PM apologizes for first time to forced sterilization victims

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida apologized Wednesday to victims of forced sterilizations carried out under the Eugenics Protection Law, stressing his determination to resolve the issue of compensation.

Japan's Supreme Court ruled in early July that the law was unconstitutional, and that the 20-year statute of limitations could not apply to victims' claims for compensation.

"The government's responsibility is very serious," Kishida told the victims at a meeting at the prime minister's office. "I am sincerely sorry."

"The old law was an unjustified violation of human rights and trampled on the dignity of the individual," he added, noting "plans to work with the ruling and opposition parties to create a new compensation programme for victims."

He also explained: "We will reach a conclusion as soon as possible regarding the new compensation program, and we will do our best to reach a quick solution."

At the end of World War II and also in 1970, about 16,000 people with mental illnesses and disabilities were forced to undergo sterilization under Japan's eugenics laws.

Although the laws are no longer on the statute books, the government has been insensitive to the suffering of victims and slow to provide compensation. Recent lawsuits seeking compensation and an official apology have brought the issue into the public spotlight, raising questions about the government’s commitment to social justice and human rights.

In 1940, Japan followed Nazi Germany in passing its own National Eugenics Law, which allowed for forced sterilization “in the public interest” of people with hereditary mental disabilities and other genetic abnormalities. But the traditional importance given to the family in Japan meant that there was widespread resistance to the idea of ​​sterilization, which would cut off the family line and eliminate its extension.

With the government in wartime encouraging couples to have more children, the National Eugenics Act was not enforced. The original bill allowed abortion for eugenic reasons, but these provisions were repealed, and legislation allowing forced sterilization in the public interest was only able to be pushed through Parliament after the minister responsible promised to stay the provisions.