Sexual Rights

The World Health Organization writes that the “fulfillment of sexual health is tied to the extent to which human rights are respected, protected and fulfilled. Sexual rights embrace certain human rights that are already recognized in international and regional human rights documents and other consensus documents and in national laws.”

They have identified the following nine sexual rights:

? the right to equality and non-discrimination⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

? the right to be free from torture or to cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment or punishment⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

? the right to privacy⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

? the rights to the highest attainable standard of health (including sexual health) and social security⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

? the right to marry and to found a family and enter into marriage with the free and full consent of the intending spouses, and to equality in and at the dissolution of marriage⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

? the right to decide the number and spacing of one’s children⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

? the rights to information, as well as education⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

? the rights to freedom of opinion and expression⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

? the right to an effective remedy for violations of fundamental rights

When I look at this list, it’s interesting to me to think of how sexual rights are being violated by not providing youth with age-appropriate and age-adequate information about sexuality and sexual health. ? Do you see any other areas sexual rights may be being violated in your community? Any ways your community may be protecting sexual rights?