Second-generation survivors seek relief measures, prepare for class action lawsuit against central government
Mar. 4, 2016
by Kyosuke Mizukawa, Staff Writer
The National Association of Second-generation A-bomb Survivors held a general meeting in Hiroshima on February 13. To press the Japanese government to provide relief measures for second-generation survivors, the association will file a class action lawsuit against the government. This move was included in the association’s action plan for 2016 and 2017. By the end of this year, the executive members of the association will discuss points of contention with lawyers. The association will encourage people to join the group of plaintiffs, raise funds, and bring this action against the government in 2017 or later.
The association is comprised of 19 organizations, including groups of second-generation survivors in Hiroshima, Nagasaki, and Yamaguchi prefectures. The association has been calling on the Japanese government to add cancer screening tests to their health checkups and apply the Atomic Bomb Survivors Relief Law to second- and third-generation survivors. But with dim prospects for the application of the law, the group has been holding study meetings since 2014 where they discuss with lawyers the idea of the lawsuit.
About 50 members attended the general meeting. They applauded in approving the action plan for 2016 and 2017 proposed by the secretariat of the association. The plan includes seeking damages caused by what they consider the government’s insufficient relief measures for second-generation survivors. The group will also discuss points of contention and at which court the lawsuit will be filed.
Noboru Sakiyama, 57, the chair of the association and a resident of Nagasaki, said, "We have not been able to materialize sufficient relief measures for second-generation survivors through political means. We hope to set out a course for the future by seeking to win lawsuits.”
The association convenes a general meeting every two years. During this meeting, it was decided that they will request that the United Nations Human Rights Council urge the Japanese government to improve its relief measures for second-generation survivors. On February 14, the participants will share their views on the association’s future actions before closing the meeting.
(Originally published on February 14, 2016)
The National Association of Second-generation A-bomb Survivors held a general meeting in Hiroshima on February 13. To press the Japanese government to provide relief measures for second-generation survivors, the association will file a class action lawsuit against the government. This move was included in the association’s action plan for 2016 and 2017. By the end of this year, the executive members of the association will discuss points of contention with lawyers. The association will encourage people to join the group of plaintiffs, raise funds, and bring this action against the government in 2017 or later.
The association is comprised of 19 organizations, including groups of second-generation survivors in Hiroshima, Nagasaki, and Yamaguchi prefectures. The association has been calling on the Japanese government to add cancer screening tests to their health checkups and apply the Atomic Bomb Survivors Relief Law to second- and third-generation survivors. But with dim prospects for the application of the law, the group has been holding study meetings since 2014 where they discuss with lawyers the idea of the lawsuit.
About 50 members attended the general meeting. They applauded in approving the action plan for 2016 and 2017 proposed by the secretariat of the association. The plan includes seeking damages caused by what they consider the government’s insufficient relief measures for second-generation survivors. The group will also discuss points of contention and at which court the lawsuit will be filed.
Noboru Sakiyama, 57, the chair of the association and a resident of Nagasaki, said, "We have not been able to materialize sufficient relief measures for second-generation survivors through political means. We hope to set out a course for the future by seeking to win lawsuits.”
The association convenes a general meeting every two years. During this meeting, it was decided that they will request that the United Nations Human Rights Council urge the Japanese government to improve its relief measures for second-generation survivors. On February 14, the participants will share their views on the association’s future actions before closing the meeting.
(Originally published on February 14, 2016)
