- The patients and those cured of Hansen’s disease made efforts to improve living conditions in the sanatoria.
- Most of the residents of sanatoria were persons who had been cured of the disease. However, the Leprosy Prevention Law, enacted in 1953, remained effective until 1996 when it was finally repealed.
- Persons affected by Hansen’s disease appealed to the courts, demanding apologies from the government and sanatoria for having forcefully taking them away from their families and confined them in sanatoria, where they lived an inhumane life.
- The result of the trial was victory for the plaintiffs in 2001. The government of Japan apologized and promised to work to abolish discrimination and prejudice towards people affected by Hansen’s disease.
- This was followed by legal action by the families of patients, against the damages caused by the segregation policy. Once again, the court ruled on the unconstitutionality of the segregation policy in 2019 resulting in a victory for the plaintiffs.
