Japan Supreme Court declares eugenics law void for being unconstitutional

Japan’s Supreme Court has made a historic ruling deeming the country’s once enforced Eugenic Protection Law as unconstitutional. This law required individuals with impairments to undergo sterilization surgery. People who were subjected to this procedure had filed lawsuits nationwide, claiming the discriminatory treatment violated their rights and seeking compensation from the state. The Supreme Court’s Grand Bench reviewed five cases from different high courts and declared the defunct law unconstitutional in four of them, ordering compensation for the victims. The remaining case was sent back to a lower court for further consideration. This marks the 13th time since World War Two that the Supreme Court has deemed a legal provision unconstitutional. The Eugenic Protection Law was enforced for nearly 50 years until it was abolished in 1996. Under this law, doctors were allowed to sterilize individuals with mental or intellectual disabilities. It is estimated that around 25,000 people underwent sterilization, including some who may have agreed to the procedure under duress. The state had argued against providing compensation, citing the long period of time since the surgeries took place. This ruling is a significant step towards recognizing and rectifying the harms caused by the Eugenic Protection Law and reaffirms the importance of upholding the rights and dignity of all individuals in society.

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