This side event will explore how sexual rights have evolved within the Human Rights Council, from early efforts to broaden their scope and foster inclusive participation, particularly of Global South activists, to today’s complex political economy, active and growing participation of sex workers, accountability mechanisms ignored, and persistent funding challenges intersecting within a multilateral system under strain. Looking ahead, the discussion will ask: how can feminists and sexual rights advocates organise for the future? What challenges and opportunities await for meaningful participation at the HRC? And what is at stake for the advancement of sexual rights in the next decade?
Sexual Rights at the UN HRC: Past, Present, and Future
Organised by: Sexual Rights Initiative
Room VIII, Palais des Nations, 17 September 2025
14h00 to 15h00
Over the years, the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) has increasingly recognized sexual rights, though progress has been uneven and contested. Early efforts focused on broadening the understanding of sexual rights and fostering more inclusive participation, particularly amplifying voices from the Global South.
Today, sexual rights advocacy at the HRC is shaped by a complex political and institutional landscape. Ongoing challenges in accountability mechanisms, and persistent funding constraints intersect within a multilateral system under strain. Despite these obstacles, there are significant opportunities for feminist and sexual rights actors to strengthen advocacy, collaboration, and strategic engagement within the HRC. This side event provides a platform to reflect on these developments and collectively envision strategies for advancing sexual rights in the coming decade.
Objectives
The side event aims to:
- Trace the evolution of sexual rights within the HRC, highlighting key milestones, achievements, and gaps in participation and recognition.
- Analyze current challenges and opportunities, including the participation of sex workers, funding constraints, and accountability mechanisms that are failing in the response to the ongoing genocide in Gaza.
- Foster dialogue and collaboration among feminist and sexual rights advocates to share strategies and best practices for effective engagement at the HRC.
- Identify pathways for the future, exploring how sexual rights actors can organize, mobilize, and influence HRC mechanisms to advance sexual rights globally.
Speakers:
- Meghan Doherty, Action Canada for Sexual Health & Rights
- Sunita Kujur, CREA
- María Luisa Peralta, Akãhatã - Equipo de trabajo en sexualidades y géneros
- Lobna Darwish, Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights
- Trajche Janushev, SWAN - The Sex Workers’ Rights Advocacy Network
Moderated by:
Pooja Badarinath, Sexual Rights Initiative