Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, former Soviet countries
inherited a widely developed network of residential social care institutions intended
for persons who have intellectual disabilities. Monitoring inspections carried out by
disability and human rights organizations in these regions reveal fundamental
human rights violations at the institutions concerned. The aim of this article is to
analyze one of the most severe and under-reported human rights violations experienced
by women who have intellectual disabilities, while residing in social care
institutions: the violation of their sexual and reproductive rights. Authors of this
article employ Foucault’s viewpoint with regard to disciplinary society and
understanding of control of sexuality as an expression of power. The institutional
culture that prevails in residential care institutions and allows room for hiding
serious human rights violations is also discussed in this article. Restrictions imposed
on sexuality in care institutions are not merely limited to a number of individual
cases, but they are connected with broader systematic issues. Above all others, the
system of residential care institutions itself allows for violations of most of its
residents’ rights to occur, including violations of sexual and reproductive rights.
None of these rights can be safeguarded and promoted sporadically or partially;
therefore, systematic changes are needed, as well as shifts in public mentality and
amendments in mental health policy.
Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, former Soviet countries
inherited a widely developed network of residential social care institutions intended
for persons who have intellectual disabilities. Monitoring inspections carried out by
disability and human rights organizations in these regions reveal fundamental
human rights violations at the institutions concerned. The aim of this article is to
analyze one of the most severe and under-reported human rights violations experienced
by women who have intellectual disabilities, while residing in social care
institutions: the violation of their sexual and reproductive rights. Authors of this
article employ Foucault’s viewpoint with regard to disciplinary society and
understanding of control of sexuality as an expression of power. The institutional
culture that prevails in residential care institutions and allows room for hiding
serious human rights violations is also discussed in this article. Restrictions imposed
on sexuality in care institutions are not merely limited to a number of individual
cases, but they are connected with broader systematic issues. Above all others, the
system of residential care institutions itself allows for violations of most of its
residents’ rights to occur, including violations of sexual and reproductive rights.
None of these rights can be safeguarded and promoted sporadically or partially;
therefore, systematic changes are needed, as well as shifts in public mentality and
amendments in mental health policy.
Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, former Soviet countries
inherited a widely developed network of residential social care institutions intended
for persons who have intellectual disabilities. Monitoring inspections carried out by
disability and human rights organizations in these regions reveal fundamental
human rights violations at the institutions concerned. The aim of this article is to
analyze one of the most severe and under-reported human rights violations experienced
by women who have intellectual disabilities, while residing in social care
institutions: the violation of their sexual and reproductive rights. Authors of this
article employ Foucault’s viewpoint with regard to disciplinary society and
understanding of control of sexuality as an expression of power. The institutional
culture that prevails in residential care institutions and allows room for hiding
serious human rights violations is also discussed in this article. Restrictions imposed
on sexuality in care institutions are not merely limited to a number of individual
cases, but they are connected with broader systematic issues. Above all others, the
system of residential care institutions itself allows for violations of most of its
residents’ rights to occur, including violations of sexual and reproductive rights.
None of these rights can be safeguarded and promoted sporadically or partially;
therefore, systematic changes are needed, as well as shifts in public mentality and
amendments in mental health policy.
Keywords
Soviet Union
Intellectual disabilities
Residential care institutions
Sexuality
