This report documents Ukraine’s Soviet-era system of orphanages and other institutions for children with disabilities. Despite declines in Ukraine’s population, there is an increasing rate of institutionalization, and for children with disabilities, placement in an orphanage is often a “gateway” to a lifetime of institutionalization. The report details the violence, exploitation, and other human rights violations that are frequently committed against these children. It also shows how families who wish to keep their children with disabilities at home are often forced to institutionalize them as a result of lack of support.
The report also provides a variety of recommendations for both the Government of Ukraine and for international donors. It highlights the critical importance of considering the needs of persons with disabilities during times of political and economic crisis, when large and far-reaching international assistance packages are likely to be formulated.
