North Carolina is aiming to amend its dirty past of forced sterilization by offering reparations to living victims, and should be proactive in making this known to them.
Between 1929 and 1974 it is estimated that 7,600 North Carolina residents were forcibly sterilized by the N.C. Eugenics Board and 2,944 were living victims as of 2010.
The N.C. Justice for Sterilization Victims Foundation determined a proper method of compensation for victims and is currently accepting claims from people who believe they were sterilized.
Monday was the last day to comment on these new rules for compensation, so now is the time to get this effort in motion.
The foundation intends to begin reaching out to victims at some time within the next year. That time frame is not only vague, but it is too far away.
The foundation should be commended for planning to reach out to victims to make sure they will be recognized by this. The forced sterilizations took place decades ago and often affected individuals who were marginalized by society. There is a strong possibility that many victims will not remember being sterilized or are unaware that it happened.
While the claims come in, the foundation should organize a task force that matches living people with the master list of sterilized individuals.
A task force would ensure that elderly victims will be aware that their claims can finally be heard and would reach out to those who may be too scared to process a claim on their own.
Victims of forced sterilization deserve not just compensation, but a timely apology for the harm done to their bodies. The members of the foundation must do everything in their power to make up for the damage the N.C. Eugenics Board did to so many individuals.
