Sexuality of ‘Dehumanized People’ across Post-Soviet Countries: Patterns from Closed Residential Care Institutions in Lithuania

Abstract

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.