CYIL vol. 15 (2024)

CYIL 15 ȍ2024Ȏ INTERNATIONAL AND DOMESTIC PROTECTION FROM VIOLENCE OF PERSONS … INTERNATIONAL AND DOMESTIC PROTECTION FROM VIOLENCE OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES IN CARE INSTITUTIONS Violeta Vasiliauskienė, Birutė Pranevičienė Abstract: The aim of the article is to reveal the protection of persons with disabilities from violence in institutional settings in international and EU legal regulation and practice, as well as the application of these principles in Lithuania. The article introduces the concepts of violence and disability. It reveals the main provisions in international legal regulation that regulates the protection of persons with disability, as well as main aspects of EU policy. Furthermore, it carries a case study of Lithuanian legal system of the protection of persons with disability from violence, including the licencing and oversight of social care activity and venues for complaints regarding violence experienced by people with disabilities in institutions. Resum é : Cílem článku je objasnit ochranu osob se zdravotním postižením před násilím v institucionálním prostředí, a to v rámci mezinárodní i evropské právní úpravy a také v praxi, stejně jako aplikaci těchto principů v Litvě. Článek objasňuje pojmy násilí a postiže ní. Ukazuje hlavní ustanovení mezinárodní právní úpravy, která upravuje ochranu osob se zdravotním postižením, a také hlavní aspekty politiky EU. Dále přináší případovou studii litevského právního systému ochrany osob se zdravotním postižením před násilím, včetně udělování licencí a dohledu nad činností sociální péče a míst pro podávání stížností na ná silí, které zažívají lidé se zdravotním postižením v ústavech. Keywords : people with disabilities; violence; social care institutions; protection from violence About the Authors: Prof. dr. Violeta Vasiliauskienė teaches Public International Law and European Union Law at the Public Security Academy of Mykolas Romeris University in Lithuania. Her scientific interests are public international law, and European Union law. Prof. dr. Birutė Pranevičienė is a professor of Law at Mykolas Romeris University (Lithuania). Since 2003 she has been the Director of the Law and Law Enforcement Institute at the Academy of Public Security. Her scientific interest is focused on human rights, constitutional, administrative, and environmental law issues. Introduction People with disabilities comprise some 15% of the world’s population and are at higher risk of violence. According to the Special Report of European Court of Auditors, twenty five percent of EU citizens over the age of 16 have a self-declared disability 1 . Yet there is currently no systematic review of the effectiveness of interventions to prevent violence against

1 European Court of Auditors, ‘Supporting persons with disabilities Practical impact of EU action is limited’ (Special Report 2023) accessed 11 June 2024, p. 4.

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