Virginia is to pay survivors of a forced sterilisation programme $25,000 (22,300) each in compensation under a measure approved by the US state's legislature. <\/p>\n
Virginia forcibly sterilised those it viewed as social misfits or mentally deficient, among others, from the mid-1920s to the mid-1970s,when the programmeofficially ended. <\/p>\n
More than 8,000 people were sterilised. <\/p>\n
Only about 11 people who underwent sterilisation are known to be still alive, and the fund totals $400,000. <\/p>\n
\"I think it's a recognition when we do something wrong we need to fix it as a government,\" said Delegate Patrick Hope, a Democrat from northern Virginia's Arlington County. <\/p>\n
\"Now we can close this final chapter and healing can begin.\" <\/p>\n
Mr Hope said that if other sterilisation victims came forward, they would need to be compensated. <\/p>\n
He said the state's eugenics programme was the model used by Nazi leader Adolf Hitler aimed at creating a master race. <\/p>\n
The eugenics movement claimed to improve human genetic features through selective breeding and sterilisation. <\/p>\n
North Carolina was the first US state to compensate victims for forced sterilisations, setting aside $10 million as compensation in 2013. <\/p>\n
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