A North Carolina task force has recommended victims of forced sterilization should receive $50,000 in compensation.

A eugenics program in the Tar Heel State operated from 1929 to 1974, forcing about 7,600 residents to undergo sterilizations.
    
The program was meant to weed out people who were described as "feeble-minded" or "undesirable."
    
About 2,000 of those victims are still alive and could be eligible for the compensation.

"I was a victim twice -- once by the rapist and one by the state of North Carolina," said 57-year-old Elaine Riddick, who was sterilized at the age of 14 after giving birth to a child who was the product of rape.

CBN News Reporter Charlene Israel spoke with Riddick about this dark corner in American history and how she is using her personal tragedy to help other victims heal. Watch more here.

"Normally, if you commit a crime, you pay for it," she tearfully said. "They committed the biggest crime. They committed a crime against God. They committed a crime against humanity."

"And this is all I can do is just accept what they said today and go on with my life," Riddick concluded.
    
The payment to the victims still needs to be approved by the North Carolina legislature.
    
But North Carolina's governor and House speaker have already endorsed the proposal.