SRI Canada – A denial of sexual rights is a denial of all human rights.
By Milena
Rampoldi and Denise Nanni, ProMosaik. In the following my interview with Meghan
Doherty of the SexualRightsInitiative (SRI) which is a coalition of six organizations from Argentina, Canada, Egypt, India, Poland, and South Africa. I asked her about the history and the objectives of her
organization. I fully agree with Meghan when she says: “A
denial of sexual rights is a denial of all human rights.” Would like to thank
Meghan for the important impulses she gave us to think about this important
matter.
Rampoldi and Denise Nanni, ProMosaik. In the following my interview with Meghan
Doherty of the SexualRightsInitiative (SRI) which is a coalition of six organizations from Argentina, Canada, Egypt, India, Poland, and South Africa. I asked her about the history and the objectives of her
organization. I fully agree with Meghan when she says: “A
denial of sexual rights is a denial of all human rights.” Would like to thank
Meghan for the important impulses she gave us to think about this important
matter.
How was your
organization founded?
The Sexual Rights Initiative (SRI) is a coalition of six organizations from all
regions of the world that came together at the UN Human Rights Council in 2005
to advocate together for the advancement of sexual rights. The SRI was
founded out of a desire to give voice and visibility in international human
rights spaces to the experiences and analyses of Global South feminists working
on a broad range of sexual rights issues. Moreover, the SRI sought to
bring together different perspectives on sexual rights that had previously
co-existed but had not joined forces in advocacy efforts in order to put
forward intersectional positions.
organization founded?
The Sexual Rights Initiative (SRI) is a coalition of six organizations from all
regions of the world that came together at the UN Human Rights Council in 2005
to advocate together for the advancement of sexual rights. The SRI was
founded out of a desire to give voice and visibility in international human
rights spaces to the experiences and analyses of Global South feminists working
on a broad range of sexual rights issues. Moreover, the SRI sought to
bring together different perspectives on sexual rights that had previously
co-existed but had not joined forces in advocacy efforts in order to put
forward intersectional positions.
Which are its
main objectives?
The SRI aims to advance sexual rights (broadly defined and inclusive of
reproductive rights) as a particular set of rights and as a crosscutting issue
within international law, specifically in the work of the United Nations Human
Rights Council. The SRI combines feminist analysis and developments in women’s
human rights and sexual and reproductive rights with important advances in the
recognition of human rights of all marginalized communities and young
people. To carry out its mission, the SRI collaborates with local,
national, regional and international activists to ensure the inclusion of
sexual rights in:
main objectives?
The SRI aims to advance sexual rights (broadly defined and inclusive of
reproductive rights) as a particular set of rights and as a crosscutting issue
within international law, specifically in the work of the United Nations Human
Rights Council. The SRI combines feminist analysis and developments in women’s
human rights and sexual and reproductive rights with important advances in the
recognition of human rights of all marginalized communities and young
people. To carry out its mission, the SRI collaborates with local,
national, regional and international activists to ensure the inclusion of
sexual rights in:
- Human Rights Council
resolutions, debates, panels and side-events - UN Special Procedures
- Studies and reports prepared by
the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights - Treaty monitoring bodies
- Universal Periodic Review
What does sexual health mean to you?
The SRI adopts the WHO definition of sexual health to be “a state of physical,
emotional, mental and social well-being in relation to sexuality; it is not
merely the absence of disease, dysfunction or infirmity. Sexual health requires
a positive and respectful approach to sexuality and sexual relationships, as
well as the possibility of having pleasurable and safe sexual experiences, free
of coercion, discrimination and violence. For sexual health to be attained and
maintained, the sexual rights of all persons must be respected, protected and
fulfilled” WHO (2016) Sexual
Health, Human Rights and the Law
The SRI adopts the WHO definition of sexual health to be “a state of physical,
emotional, mental and social well-being in relation to sexuality; it is not
merely the absence of disease, dysfunction or infirmity. Sexual health requires
a positive and respectful approach to sexuality and sexual relationships, as
well as the possibility of having pleasurable and safe sexual experiences, free
of coercion, discrimination and violence. For sexual health to be attained and
maintained, the sexual rights of all persons must be respected, protected and
fulfilled” WHO (2016) Sexual
Health, Human Rights and the Law
Which are
the main problems women have to face in this field?
As women are not a homogenous group and experience multiple and intersecting
forms of discrimination that can vary within countries and between countries,
it is difficult to identify the main problems women face as they will be
different for different women. However, in general, all women are exposed
to gender inequality and the harmful gender norms perpetuated by patriarchy.
This is at the root of the staggering global prevalence of violence against
women and girls (1 in 3 women and girls globally will be subject to
physical/sexual violence in their lifetime) and impunity for such violence;
criminalization of abortion, sex work, same sex relationships, extra-marital
sex and HIV; third party authorization for sexual and reproductive health
services; restrictions and inaccessibility to safe and effective contraception;
obstetric violence; lack of comprehensive sexuality education; forced
sterilization; infringements on women’s bodily autonomy and integrity; early
and forced marriage; and any other act that seeks to prevent women from
exercising control over her own sexuality. Moreover, States’ failure to
remedy these egregious violations, to provide legal guarantees for women’s
rights to be protected, respected and fulfilled, and to address the systemic
and structural discrimination against women that creates the conditions for
these violations to proliferate around the world is directly connected to
violations of the rights inter alia to education, access to justice, equal
standing before the law, health, water, work, and sanitation which
disproportionately impact women.
the main problems women have to face in this field?
As women are not a homogenous group and experience multiple and intersecting
forms of discrimination that can vary within countries and between countries,
it is difficult to identify the main problems women face as they will be
different for different women. However, in general, all women are exposed
to gender inequality and the harmful gender norms perpetuated by patriarchy.
This is at the root of the staggering global prevalence of violence against
women and girls (1 in 3 women and girls globally will be subject to
physical/sexual violence in their lifetime) and impunity for such violence;
criminalization of abortion, sex work, same sex relationships, extra-marital
sex and HIV; third party authorization for sexual and reproductive health
services; restrictions and inaccessibility to safe and effective contraception;
obstetric violence; lack of comprehensive sexuality education; forced
sterilization; infringements on women’s bodily autonomy and integrity; early
and forced marriage; and any other act that seeks to prevent women from
exercising control over her own sexuality. Moreover, States’ failure to
remedy these egregious violations, to provide legal guarantees for women’s
rights to be protected, respected and fulfilled, and to address the systemic
and structural discrimination against women that creates the conditions for
these violations to proliferate around the world is directly connected to
violations of the rights inter alia to education, access to justice, equal
standing before the law, health, water, work, and sanitation which
disproportionately impact women.
Which are the main awareness campaigns you carry out?
The SRI aims to raise awareness of a broad range of sexual rights violations
and their intersections with other rights violations with Governments, civil
society, UN agencies and independent experts through a variety of mechanisms
including: public events, stakeholder submissions to UN agencies and processes,
statements to the UN Human Rights Council, and dissemination of analyses of UN
proceedings. Issues that the SRI has highlighted include: the
criminalization of abortion, maternal mortality and human rights, the right to
comprehensive sexuality education, State obligations to prevent violence
against women and girls, the rights to bodily autonomy, the politicization of
women’s bodies, impact of fundamentalisms on sexual rights, adolescents’ sexual
rights and human rights violations of sex workers.
The SRI aims to raise awareness of a broad range of sexual rights violations
and their intersections with other rights violations with Governments, civil
society, UN agencies and independent experts through a variety of mechanisms
including: public events, stakeholder submissions to UN agencies and processes,
statements to the UN Human Rights Council, and dissemination of analyses of UN
proceedings. Issues that the SRI has highlighted include: the
criminalization of abortion, maternal mortality and human rights, the right to
comprehensive sexuality education, State obligations to prevent violence
against women and girls, the rights to bodily autonomy, the politicization of
women’s bodies, impact of fundamentalisms on sexual rights, adolescents’ sexual
rights and human rights violations of sex workers.
How important is to care about these matters as
society as a whole?
society as a whole?
Human rights refer to every person’s freedoms and
entitlements to live in dignity. They are universal, interdependent, and
indivisible. A denial of sexual rights is a denial of all human rights.
entitlements to live in dignity. They are universal, interdependent, and
indivisible. A denial of sexual rights is a denial of all human rights.
While experienced and expressed differently, sexuality
is a fundamental part of humanity. The fulfillment of human rights
related to sexuality requires an environment in which all persons can control
and decide freely on matters related to their sexuality; are free from
violence, coercion or intimidation in their sexual lives; have access to sexual
and reproductive health care information, education and services; and are
protected from discrimination based on the exercise of their sexuality.
States have an obligation to respect, protect and fulfill every person’s
rights in this regard, without exception. And if they don’t, the SRI will
be there to hold them accountable.
is a fundamental part of humanity. The fulfillment of human rights
related to sexuality requires an environment in which all persons can control
and decide freely on matters related to their sexuality; are free from
violence, coercion or intimidation in their sexual lives; have access to sexual
and reproductive health care information, education and services; and are
protected from discrimination based on the exercise of their sexuality.
States have an obligation to respect, protect and fulfill every person’s
rights in this regard, without exception. And if they don’t, the SRI will
be there to hold them accountable.
