Japan on Friday enacted a law enabling compensation payments of up to ¥1.8 million to be made to family members of leprosy sufferers who experienced discrimination and prejudice under the country's former segregation policy.
The law stipulates that the government and the Diet "deeply apologize" and show remorse to the family members for their hardship. Leprosy, also known as Hansen's disease, is now curable but many patients were forced into isolation in sanatoriums under a law that was in place between 1907 and 1996.
Japan launched a compensation program nearly two decades ago for the leprosy sufferers but it did not cover their family members.