Tokyo CNN —Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has formally apologized to a group of plaintiffs who were forcibly sterilized under the country’s decades-long former eugenics law following their lengthy campaign for justice.
At least 25,000 people were sterilized under the law, Kishida told a meeting at his official residence of about 130 survivors, many now elderly and in wheelchairs, public broadcaster NHK reported Wednesday.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida apologizes during a meeting with the plaintiffs and their supporters at his official residence in Tokyo on July 17, 2024.
Besides an official apology, the plaintiffs have also demanded a compensation law that would benefit all survivors, even those who haven’t filed lawsuits.
“I heard the apology directly from the prime minister to the victims, but I think we could have heard it earlier,” said Koji Niisato, an attorney for plaintiffs, according to NHK.
Persons:
Fumio Kishida, Kishida, “, ” Kishida, Kikuo Kojima, ’, ” “, ”, JIJI Press, haven’t, Koji Niisato
Organizations:
Tokyo CNN — Japan’s, NHK, Protection, JIJI, Getty, Eugenics, “
Locations:
Tokyo, Japan