差別解消、さらなる取り組みを　ハンセン病家族、安倍首相と面会

　ハンセン病の元患者家族に最大１８０万円を支給する補償法が施行されたことを受け、家族訴訟の原告らが２６日、首相官邸で安倍晋三首相と面会した。原告らは補償法成立に謝意を示すとともに、差別解消に向けさらなる取り組みを進めるよう求めた。
　原告団副団長の黄光男さん（６４）は、補償法について「われわれ家族の苦労を認めていただいた結果だと思う」と評価。一方で、差別を恐れて現在も息子に元患者であることを打ち明けられないという大阪在住の知人の話を紹介し、「ハンセン病を背負って生きていく人に対し、政府として支援していく姿勢が必要だ。補償金をもらったからそれで終わりということではない」と訴えた。（2019/11/26-11:04）

Relatives of former leprosy patients, at a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Tuesday, called on the government to continue efforts to combat discrimination after the recent enactment of a law for compensation.
   They expressed gratitude for the enactment of the law to provide up to 1.8 million yen in compensation per person to relatives of former patients.
   The lawmaker-initiated legislation was established after Kumamoto District Court in southwestern Japan, in a landmark ruling in June, ordered the state to pay compensation to relatives of former leprosy patients, recognizing that the government's quarantine policy for the patients caused discrimination against the family members as well. The government did not appeal against the ruling.
   The enactment came as "a result of the government recognizing the hardships that the families of leprosy patients suffered," Hwang Gwang-nam, the 64-year-old deputy leader of the group of plaintiffs in the lawsuit, said at the meeting with Abe, held at the prime minister's office in Tokyo.
   Referring to an acquaintance living in Osaka, western Japan, who has still been unable to tell a son that the person was a patient for fear of discrimination, Hwang said, "The government needs to continue showing a stance of supporting those" who are living with the history of their disease.