全国の強制不妊訴訟が終結　最後の和解成立―名古屋高裁

　旧優生保護法に基づき不妊手術を強制されたとして、聴覚障害のある名古屋市の尾上敬子さん（７４）と夫の一孝さん（７７）が国に損害賠償を求めた訴訟は１５日、名古屋高裁（朝日貴浩裁判長）で和解が成立した。原告側弁護団によると、今回の和解で、強制不妊を巡る一連の訴訟は終結した。
　和解条項は、９月に国と原告らで締結された合意書に基づいた内容。「立法当初から憲法違反」と指摘し、同法を執行していた政府の責任は極めて重大として、反省と原告への謝罪などが盛り込まれた。その上で、敬子さんに１３００万円、一孝さんに２００万円の慰謝料などを支払うことで和解が成立した。
　和解成立後、尾上さん夫妻は記者会見。敬子さんは「謝っていただくということで安心した」と表情を緩ませた。一孝さんは「最高裁の判決以上に感動している。これ以上、言葉にできない」と手話で喜びを伝えた。（2024/11/15-18:07）

A settlement was reached Friday at Nagoya High Court in central Japan in a damages lawsuit over forced sterilization under the now-defunct eugenic protection law, ending a series of similar lawsuits in the country, according to the defense lawyers.
   The Nagoya lawsuit was filed by Keiko Onoue, 74, and her husband, Kazutaka, 77, against the Japanese government. The settlement terms are based on an agreement reached between the two sides in September.
   In the settlement, the government acknowledged its grave responsibility for enforcing the law, and expressed remorse and an apology to the plaintiffs. It agreed to pay 13 million yen to Keiko and 2 million yen to Kazutaka.
   "I am relieved by the government's apology," Keiko said at a press conference on the day. Kazutaka said he had no words to express his feelings.
   The couple married in 1975, but Keiko, who is hard of hearing, was forced to undergo a sterilization operation the same year.