How are people with disabilities treated in Russia?

Russian law guarantees everyone the right to education, and amendments to Russian law ban disability-based discrimination in all spheres of life beginning on January 1, 2016. Many children with disabilities remain segregated in specialized schools for children with certain types of disabilities.

Is Russia wheelchair friendly?

Having the status of one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, Russia still seems to be not accessible for all people and most of the wheelchair travelers avoid tours to Russia.

Are there disabled people in Russia?

In today’s Russia, some 13 million people live with disabilities. Petersburg, attended by residents of local orphanages and adult institutions for people with disabilities. Most people there had cerebral palsy, down syndrome, or limited mobility, or were blind or deaf.

How were disabled people treated in the Soviet Union?

People who grew up in the USSR do not remember any wheelchair ramps or specialized restrooms designed for the disabled in Soviet cities. Disabled people were actually destined, at best, to “house arrest” and, at worst, to unpaid work in terrible conditions.

How many people have disabilities in Russia?

As a result, the number of Russians formally recognised as disabled has dropped by almost 500,000 in 18 months – from 12.9 million in early 2014 to 12.5 million in September 2015, according to government figures.

Is Moscow wheelchair friendly?

Moscow, the capital city of Russia and the seat of power within the former Soviet Union, is a major world city and the largest on the European continent. Surprisingly, though, the city can be accessed by those in wheelchairs, despite a number of obstacles which remain.

Are there any laws to protect disability rights in Russia?

Russia: Pass Laws to Protect Disability Rights. (Moscow) – The Russian State Duma should pass amendments that will protect the rights of people with disabilities. The Duma should also introduce further amendments to protect the rights of people with cognitive disabilities and ensure that the disability rights laws are effectively enforced.

What should the Russian State Duma do to protect the rights of disabled?

(Moscow) – The Russian State Duma should pass amendments that will protect the rights of people with disabilities. The Duma should also introduce further amendments to protect the rights of people with cognitive disabilities and ensure that the disability rights laws are effectively enforced.

What has changed with attitudes to disability in Russia?

Attitudes have shifted even further since then, in particular since 2012 when Russia ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). Legislation has been changing every year to correspond with the UNCRPD.

Where do disabled children with disabilities live in Russia?

“Nearly 30 percent of all children with disabilities in Russia live in state orphanages, though 95 percent of them have at least one parent, according to a Human Rights Watch (HRW) report.” 4