Abe apologizes to kin of former leprosy patients over past segregation policy
The apology came after the government chose not to appeal a court decision ordering the state to pay about ¥376 million in damages to family members of leprosy patients.
The prime minister confirmed the “severe prejudice and discrimination” they endured as relatives of Hansen’s disease patients.
In 'rare' move, Abe says government won't appeal damages awarded to leprosy patients' kin
“We must not prolong the hardship of family members who have gone through something indescribable,” Abe said in announcing the decision.
The government needs to listen to what patients' relatives have gone through and explore what can be done to make up for the damage done.
Court orders Japan government to pay ¥370 million to leprosy patients' kin for discrimination
The ruling by the Kumamoto District Court is the first to compensate for discrimination suffered by relatives of people who had Hansen’s disease.
The decision reflects the parties’ consensus that there must be redress soon for the victims, who are advanced in age, without waiting for court decisions.
Kin of leprosy patients seek damages and formal apology from Tokyo over alleged discrimination
In closing her testimony during court proceedings of a class-action lawsuit filed by relatives of leprosy patients, plaintiff Nobuko Harada told the Kumamoto District Court in a quivering voice, "All I want is an apology from the government while I am alive." Harada, 74, is ...
Ex-leprosy patients in Japan call for restored honor after court apology
Former leprosy patients urged the state on Thursday to step up efforts to restore their honor and that of deceased sufferers as they attended a government-sponsored ceremony remembering those subjected to years of discrimination in Japan. From the Supreme Court, Secretary-General Yukihiko Imasaki attended the ...
The top court's probe into "special trials" held for leprosy patients accused of criminal offenses failed to address whether the defendants recieved justice.
Supreme Court apologizes for discriminatory treatment of Japan's leprosy patients
The Supreme Court apologizes to former leprosy patients for allowing lower courts to hold criminal trials involving them outside standard courtrooms over ungrounded fears about the spread of infection.
Rather than merely offer an apology to former Hansen's disease patients for their closed trials, the Supreme Court should look into whether they received fair trials.
Japan's top court to apologize to ex-leprosy patients over segregation policy
The Supreme Court is considering making a rare apology for the past practice of trying leprosy patients outside standard courtrooms for fear of infection, sources said.
