D.34 - Policies for the exercise of sexual rights

Priority measure number
34
D.34 - Policies for the exercise of sexual rights
Promote policies that enable persons to exercise their sexual rights, which embrace the right to a safe and full sex life, as well as the right to take free, informed, voluntary and responsible decisions on their sexuality, sexual orientation and gender identity, without coercion, discrimination or violence, and that guarantee the right to information and the means necessary for their sexual health and reproductive health.

Comments

This measure is complementary to priority measure 36 on eradicating discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in the exercise of sexual rights and the manifestations thereof, as well as with the priority measures of chapter E on gender equality, in particular those on reducing gender-based violence and violence against women.

While there are no specific mechanisms for protecting sexual rights, civil society and experts on the issue have made contributions such as the Yogyakarta Declaration and “Sexual rights: an IPPF declaration” by the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), which define basic standards to assist the United Nations and member States in moving forward with guaranteeing protection for sexual rights. Specialized surveys will be needed to measure some of the indicators, especially number 6

Possible lines of action

1. Ensure that there are specific normative frameworks in place covering sexual rights with respect to sex, age, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, health status or HIV/AIDS status. 2. Develop mechanisms for applying legislation and normative frameworks on sexual rights, and the financial resources needed to put them into practice. 3. Implement programmes of comprehensive sexuality education from early childhood, with a participatory, intercultural, gender and human rights focus. 4. Implement antidiscrimination programmes based on the protection and promotion of all human rights, including sexual rights, sexual orientation and gender identity. 5. Implement programmes to prevent, combat and punish all forms of violence, including any type of physical, verbal, psychological or economic abuse, sexual harassment or sexual violence, rape and any other form of coercive sexual relationship within or outside marriage, during armed conflicts, forced displacements, disaster situations or other conditions of vulnerability. 6. Promote measures to guarantee the right to information regarding sexual and reproductive health and sexual and reproductive rights. 7. Establish complaint and redress mechanisms for cases of discrimination.

Related instruments, forums and mechanisms

Brasilia Consensus.

Santo Domingo Consensus.

As intergovernmental measures and agreements concerning sexual rights are more recent, there is no specific mechanism for such follow-up, and it would be desirable for the second session of the Regional Conference on Population and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean to consider adopting an appropriate mechanism in cooperation with the machineries of the Regional Conference on Women in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Topic
D. Sexual and reproductive health