Japan Press Weekly

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2017 May 17 - 23 [POLITICS]

Bill to monitor the mentally disabled for ‘crime prevention’ enacted

A bill to keep an eye on persons with mental disabilities on the pretext of “crime prevention” became law on May 17 at the House of Councilors plenary session with the backing of the Liberal Democratic Party, the Komei Party, and Nippon Ishin no Kai.

The Japanese Communist, Democratic, Liberal, and Social Democratic parties as well as the parliamentary group “Okinawa Whirlwind” voted against the bill to revise the Mental Health and Welfare Law.

The revised act will oblige municipalities to develop support programs for involuntary hospitalized patients and request that civil servants report patients of their misuse of controlled drugs or suspicion of other questionable activities to police.

Before the vote, Japanese Communist Party lawmaker Kurabayashi Akiko criticized the bill for contradicting the purpose of the existing law which stipulates measures “to promote the welfare of persons with disabilities and improve people’s mental health”.

Kurabayashi stated, “The new law will create a structure to provide information to police regarding the mentally challenged who have not even committed any crime and to pass on the information to any municipality they may move to. This will be a mechanism to place them under surveillance.”

“On the other hand,” she pointed out, “Despite being admonished by the UN many times, the bill neglects to mention the need for advocacy for individuals with mental disorders.”

Kurabayashi demanded the withdrawal of the proposed revision as it is incompatible with the original law and that amendments be drafted to protect the rights of mentally-disturbed persons.

Past related article:
> Increase in surveillance of mentally-disabled people is unacceptable [May 12, 2017]