CYIL vol. 15 (2024)

VIOLETA VASILIAUSKIENĖ, BIRUTĖ PRANEVIČIENĖ them. 2 Adults with disability are frequently reported to be at increased risk of violence, yet quantitative syntheses of studies of this issue are scarce. 3 The social context of disability, encompassing aspects like inaccessibility, dependence on support services, poverty, and isolation, significantly elevates the risk of violence for individuals. Historically, people with disabilities have not been regarded as reliable reporters of abuse and have often been denied the opportunity to make autonomous decisions in various areas of their lives. Traditional methods of ‘protecting’ individuals with disabilities have unintentionally restricted their access to the tools and resources necessary for self-protection. 4 The paradigm of the disability support system in modern countries is one that aims to fully integrate people with disabilities into society, taking into account each person’s specific needs and abilities, and tailoring services and support measures according to individual assessment. Some people with disabilities are unable to live independently due to their condition, which is why countries are also developing institutional living arrangements for people with disabilities. As regarding the scope of the analysis, it should be noted that persons with disabilities are cared for in institutional settings in two main types of facilities in Lithuania – in social care institutions and in inpatient mental healthcare institutions. This article will deal with the first aspect – it will analyse the protection from violence of persons with disabilities residing in social care institutions in Lithuania. In Lithuania, there were 5 044 adult persons 5 with disabilities and 946 children with disabilities 6 residing in institutions in 2023. Thus, the aim of this 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. To achieve this goal, we have formulated the following objectives: 1. To introduce the concepts of violence and disability; 2. To analyse the international framework and EU actions in protecting persons with disability; 3. To present an analysis of international, European and national legal acts and their implementation in the context of the protection from violence in Lithuanian social care system. 2 MIKTON, C., MAGUIRE, H., SHAKESPEARE, T. ‘A Systematic Review of the Effectiveness of Interventions to Prevent and Respond to Violence Against Persons With Disabilities’ (2014) Journal of Interpersonal Violence 29(17), 3207 https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260514534530. 3 HUGHES, K., BELLIS, M. A., JONES, L., WOOD, S., BATES, G., ECKLEY, L., McCOY, E., MIKTON, C., SHAKESPEARE, T. OFFICER, A. ‘Prevalence and risk of violence against adults with disabilities: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies’ (2012) THE LANCET , 379(9826) 1621 https://doi.org/10.1016/ s0140-6736(11)61851-5. 4 POWERS, L. E., OSCHWALD M. ‘Violence and abuse against people with disabilities: Experiences, barriers and prevention strategies’ (2004) Center on Self-Determination, Oregon Institute on Disability and Development, Oregon Health & Science University accessed 11 June 2024. 5 Number of residents in care institutions for the adult disabled at the end of the year https://osp.stat.gov.lt/en/ statistiniu-rodikliu-analize?portletFormName=visualization&hash=93742675-7adf-4df3-93d2-35cc262aa2da#/ 6 Number of children with disabilities in institutions for children, at the end of the year https://osp.stat.gov.lt/en/ statistiniu-rodikliu-analize?portletFormName=visualization&hash=93742675-7adf-4df3-93d2-35cc262aa2da#/

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