The Disability News Japan 2024 Wrap-Up!

In the style of all the ‘big beasts’ of social media, I thought ‘Barrier Free Japan’ should do a ‘Wrap-up’ at the end of 2024. 2024 seemed to be the year of finalizing ‘forced sterilization’ cases. In July, the Eugenic Protection Law was deemed unconstitutional by the Japanese Supreme Court, and later in July the then Japanese Prime Minister, Fumio Kishida apologized for the Eugenic Protection Law - (I wrongly said the apology might have been given in October or November in the Podcast). The Forced Sterilization Compensation Bill was passed into Law in October 2024. Later in mid-November the ‘last forced sterilization victim’, Keiko Onoue received 13 million Yen in compensation and her spouse, Kazutaka received 2 million yen in compensation. In early December, Yumi Suzuki, one of the plaintiffs in forced sterilization lawsuits against the Japanese Government was named an “Influential and inspiring woman” by the BBC. Barrier Free Japan wishes you a ‘Merī Kurisumasu’ and a Barrier Free New Year!