Literature Review on Provision of Appropriate and Accessible ...
Literature Review on Provision of Appropriate and Accessible ...
Literature Review on Provision of Appropriate and Accessible ...
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own sexual choices <strong>and</strong> to protect them from abuse. The main difficulty<br />
is determining whether a pers<strong>on</strong> with an intellectual disability has the<br />
capacity to c<strong>on</strong>sent to a sexual relati<strong>on</strong>ship, <strong>and</strong> if so whether the pers<strong>on</strong><br />
is c<strong>on</strong>senting <str<strong>on</strong>g>Literature</str<strong>on</strong>g> to a particular <str<strong>on</strong>g>Review</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> sexual Provisi<strong>on</strong> relati<strong>on</strong>ship <strong>of</strong> <strong>Appropriate</strong> (Eastgate, <strong>and</strong> <strong>Accessible</strong> 2008).<br />
Support to People with an Intellectual Disability who are<br />
Experiencing Crisis Pregnancy<br />
The following discussi<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> capacity, c<strong>on</strong>sent <strong>and</strong> sexual relati<strong>on</strong>ships<br />
provides an overview <strong>of</strong> the statutory framework within which individuals<br />
with intellectual disabilities’ capacity to explore <strong>and</strong> enjoy sexual<br />
relati<strong>on</strong>ships aut<strong>on</strong>omously is regulated. It goes <strong>on</strong> to c<strong>on</strong>sider current<br />
debates in this area, including the argument that in trying to protect<br />
vulnerable people the law is reducing their freedom, in so far as sex<br />
<strong>and</strong> intimacy are c<strong>on</strong>cerned to the extent that some people deemed as<br />
‘mentally impaired’ could run the risk <strong>of</strong> prosecuti<strong>on</strong>. This secti<strong>on</strong> will<br />
look to examples <strong>of</strong> good practice from other jurisdicti<strong>on</strong>s attempting to<br />
achieve a balance between protecti<strong>on</strong> <strong>and</strong> aut<strong>on</strong>omy.<br />
3.2 Recogniti<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> rights to sexual relati<strong>on</strong>ships for people<br />
with intellectual disabilities<br />
Article 23 1 (a) <strong>of</strong> the UN C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> the Rights <strong>of</strong> Pers<strong>on</strong>s with<br />
Disabilities recognises the ‘right <strong>of</strong> all pers<strong>on</strong>s with disabilities who are<br />
<strong>of</strong> marriageable age to marry <strong>and</strong> to found a family <strong>on</strong> the basis <strong>of</strong> free<br />
<strong>and</strong> full c<strong>on</strong>sent <strong>of</strong> the intending spouses’. In Irel<strong>and</strong>, The Law Reform<br />
Commissi<strong>on</strong> (2006) has emphasised that where a pers<strong>on</strong> has been found<br />
to lack capacity, this results in a restricti<strong>on</strong> or removal <strong>of</strong> fundamental<br />
human rights; therefore, the issues <strong>of</strong> capacity <strong>and</strong> rights are inextricably<br />
linked (LRC, 2006).<br />
With regard to sexual fulfilment for people with intellectual disabilities,<br />
a number <strong>of</strong> authors have recommended the adopti<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> a rights-based<br />
approach to the development <strong>of</strong> legislati<strong>on</strong> incorporating protecti<strong>on</strong><br />
without discriminati<strong>on</strong> for adults with intellectual disabilities (D<strong>on</strong>nelly,<br />
2008; Grayd<strong>on</strong>, Hall <strong>and</strong> O’Brien-Mal<strong>on</strong>e, 2006; Keywood, 2003b;<br />
Brown, 2004; Brown, 1996). In reviewing the law <strong>and</strong> procedures for<br />
people whose capacity is in questi<strong>on</strong> <strong>and</strong>/or is limited note must be<br />
taken <strong>of</strong> Irel<strong>and</strong>’s human rights obligati<strong>on</strong>s <strong>and</strong> <strong>of</strong> internati<strong>on</strong>al human<br />
rights principles. Any change to the law <strong>on</strong> capacity must comply with<br />
those obligati<strong>on</strong>s <strong>and</strong> be guided by the principles underpinning those<br />
obligati<strong>on</strong>s.