March 25, 2010

In a settlement with 12 plaintiffs mediated by the Saitama District Court, the government on March 24 agreed to abolish the disabled person self-support law by August 2013 and establish a new welfare system in which low-income earners will not be required to pay fees for services.

This was the first settlement among lawsuits that people with disabilities filed against the government at 14 district courts, claiming that it is unconstitutional to require disabled persons to pay 10 percent of the cost for welfare services under the self-support assistance law.

The settlement was based on a basic consensus document signed by the plaintiffs’ lawyers group and the government in January in which the government promised to implement a new law and both parties agreed to settle the lawsuits.

Before the document was read out in court, plaintiff Igarashi Ryo stated, “I will continue the effort to increase the movement to create a new law which guarantees a better society for people with disabilities.”

The plaintiffs’ lawyers group at a news conference said, “It is significant that the court confirmed the basic consensus document.”
- Akahata, March 25, 2010