Disability Rights

2011 marked the 20th anniversary of the collapse of the Soviet Union and the birth of the new Russia. In May of that year, international portrait photographer Platon traveled there to document a lasting and essential element of the country's post-communist history: the flourishing of civil society. With origins in the dissident movement and then the glasnost era, Russia’s civil society consists of a vast array of human rights organizations, independent journalists, social activists, lawyers, and artists. While extremely diverse, these actors are undeniably united by their determination to protect the gains of openness.

Despite this commitment, many still do their work at considerable peril. Investigative journalism and human rights work, in particular, continually prove to be deadly professions. Often, the government tries to discredit, marginalize, intimidate and sometimes silence the most critical voices.

This portfolio captures these colleagues and “children of Sakharov”- the famous nuclear scientist and informal leader of the Soviet dissent movement. At this 20-year mark, it celebrates this amazing gathering of individuals and their achievement- the creation of a civil society that is transforming Russia.

Disability Rights

People with disabilities in Russia face a range of barriers that limit their participation in society. Public buildings and transportation are often inaccessible. People with mental disabilities are often forcibly confined to institutions for long periods of time. Pregnant women who have disabilities are coerced by medical professionals to have an abortion. Parents who give birth to a child with Down syndrome are still encouraged to give up their baby.

According to the United Nations Children's Fund, only 2 percent of Russian schools have an inclusive education approach, in which children with and without disabilities attend school together. The government has pledged to expand inclusive education to 50 percent of schools. But reaching that goal will require a comprehensive plan to improve school infrastructure, train teachers, and - last, but definitely not least - educate parents and the community as to why this is important and beneficial for society as a whole.