Disabled Desires? - About Individuals with Severe Mental Impairments and the Human Right to Sexuality

Abstract

This thesis seeks to argue for a policy concerning the sexuality of individuals with severe mental impairments living in a residential home. The general situation concerning the sexuality of individuals with severe mental impairments will be illustrated as well as shown that in residential homes the matter of sexuality still causes unease and vagueness of how it should be handled. By referring to the human rights framework, a human right to sexuality is stipulated and justified. Additionally, this thesis tries to show that there is a responsibility of residential homes towards the right to sexuality in the context of the severely mentally impaired. The issue of the extent of the home’s policy will be shortly addressed. It will be concluded that an interdisciplinary study is needed in order to achieve appropriate guidelines which take the wishes and vulnerability of the severely mentally impaired as well as their carers and parents into account.