Access to reproductive health care services for women with disabilities in Lithuania: human rights and practical challenges

Abstract

There are approximately 46 million women and girls with disabilities living in the European Union, based on a functional understanding of disability. Despite this significant number, discrimination against this group remains pervasive. Access to both general and reproductive health care services continues to be limited and, for many, unattainable. Barriers stem from practical obstacles – such as inadequate infrastructure, insufficient accessibility, and lack of effective communication – as well as legal and systemic issues, including entrenched discriminatory attitudes. Women with disabilities are still too often perceived as asexual or unfit for motherhood, which reinforces their exclusion from reproductive health services. International and European human rights law prohibits discrimination on the grounds of disability and requires states to ensure equal and effective access to health care. The aim of this article is to assess whether the Lithuanian legal framework and its implementation ensure effective and non-discriminatory access to reproductive health care services for women with disabilities, considering international and European human rights obligations. The article examines structural, legal and attitudinal barriers that persist in practice and evaluates their compatibility with the principles of equality, non-discrimination and reproductive autonomy.