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Published on September 04, 2024The 46th session of the Universal Periodic was held from 29 April to 10 May 2024. 14 Countries were under review during the session: Afghanistan, Cambodia, Chie, Comoros, Cyprus, the Dominican Republic, Eritrea, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Slovakia, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Viet Nam and Yemen. In collaboration with our partners, the SRI submitted reports for Cambodia, North Macedonia, Chile and Uruguay.
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Published on September 04, 2024La sesión 46° del Examen Periódico Universal tuvo lugar del 29 de abril al 10 de mayo de 2024. Durante la sesión fueron examinados 14 países: Afganistán, Camboya, Chile, Chipre, Eritrea, Eslovaquia, Islas Comoras, Macedonia del Norte, Nueva Zelanda, República Dominicana, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Vietnam y Yemen. En colaboración con organizaciones aliadas, la SRI presentó informes sobre Camboya, Macedonia del Norte, Chile y Uruguay.
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Published on September 04, 2024The 46th session of the Universal Periodic was held from 29 April to 10 May 2024. 14 Countries were under review during the session: Afghanistan, Cambodia, Chie, Comoros, Cyprus, the Dominican Republic, Eritrea, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Slovakia, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Viet Nam and Yemen. In collaboration with our partners, the SRI submitted reports for Cambodia, North Macedonia, Chile and Uruguay.
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Published on September 04, 2024The 45th session of the Universal Periodic was held from 22 January to 02 February 2024. 14 Countries were under review during the session: Saudi Arabia, Senegal, China, Nigeria Mauritius, Mexico, Jordan, Malaysia, Central African Republic, Monaco, Belize, Chad, Congo and Malta. In collaboration with our partners, the SRI submitted reports for Malaysia and Nigeria.
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Published on September 04, 2024La sesión 45° del Examen Periódico Universal tuvo lugar del 22 de enero al 2 de febrero de 2024. En esa sesión fueron examinados 14 países: Arabia Saudita, Senegal, China, Nigeria Mauricio, México, Jordania, Malasia, República Centroafricana, Mónaco, Belice, Chad, Congo y Malta. En colaboración con organizaciones aliadas, la SRI presentó informes sobre Malasia y Nigeria.
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Published on September 04, 202445e session de l’Examen périodique universel (EPU) a eu lieu du 22 janvier au 2 février 2024. Quatorze pays y ont fait l’objet d’un examen : l’Arabie saoudite, le Sénégal, la Chine, le Nigeria, Maurice, le Mexique, la Jordanie, la Malaisie, la République centrafricaine, Monaco, le Bélize, le Tchad, le Congo et Malte. En collaboration avec ses partenaires, la SRI a soumis des mémoires concernant la Malaisie et le Nigeria.
Organes des Nations Unies
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The SRI works with the four main UN human rights mechanisms: the Human Rights Council, the Universal Periodic Review, the Special Procedures and the Treaty Monitoring Bodies. Learn about these mechanisms and what they do.
Introduction
The UN human rights system is a collection of mechanisms that work together to:
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Hold States accountable for their human rights obligations
- Discuss and take action on human rights concerns around the world
- Set standards for the promotion, protection, and fulfillment of human rights
The SRI works with the four main UN human rights mechanisms:
- The Human Rights Council
- The Universal Periodic Review
- The Treaty Monitoring Bodies
- The Special Procedures
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Human Rights Council
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The Human Rights Council is the foremost inter-governmental body charged with protecting and promoting human rights.
47 UN Member States are elected by the UN General Assembly to serve on the Human Rights Council for a three-year term. All 193 UN Member States can participate in the proceedings of the Human Rights Council; however, only the 47 Members are entitled to vote on actions to be taken.
The Human Rights Council is mandated to:
- Engage governments, civil society, and experts to debate, discuss, and adopt resolutions on thematic and country-specific human rights concerns.
- Appoint Special Procedures to analyze and report on human rights related to particular themes and in specific countries.
- Assess the human rights records of all 193 UN Member States through the Universal Periodic Review.
- Examine human rights violation complaints.
The Human Rights Council meets three times a year for regular sessions in March, June, and September at the United Nations Office in Geneva, Switzerland.
To learn more about the Human Rights Council, please visit its website or watch this video produced by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Universal Periodic Review
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The Universal Periodic Review is an inter-governmental process where each of the 193 UN Member States are reviewed on their entire human rights record every four and a half years.
All UN Member States are reviewed on an equal basis and with the same frequency. States under review are provided an opportunity to update the UN Human Rights Council on the steps taken to fulfill their human rights obligations at the national level. During this process, UN Member States also make recommendations to the State under review to improve the implementation of human rights obligations at the national level.
To learn more about the Universal Periodic Review, please visit its website or watch this video produced by UPR-Info.
Click here to review a collection of the SRI’s collaborative UPR stakeholder submissions.
Special Procedures
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UN Special Procedures are human rights experts appointed by the UN Human Rights Council to investigate, analyze and report on thematic or country-specific human rights concerns.
UN Special Procedures can take the form of Special Rapporteurs, Independent Experts, or Working Groups. The Special Procedures submit annual reports to the Human Rights Council, respond to communications of urgent human rights violations, undertake country visits, and contribute to the development of international human rights norms and standards.
To learn more about the Special Procedures, please visit their website or watch this video produced by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Click here to learn more about our work at the Special Procedures
Treaty Monitoring Bodies
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The Treaty Monitoring Bodies are committees of independent experts that monitor the implementation of international human rights treaties.
When States ratify a human rights treaty, they agree to periodically report to the respective Committee on the steps taken to ensure everyone in the State can enjoy the rights set out in the treaty. The Treaty Monitoring Bodies also develop and adopt General Comments or Recommendations to guide States in the implementation of the obligations set out in the human rights treaties.
To learn more about the Treaty Monitoring Bodies, please visit their website or watch this video produced by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Click here to learn more about our work at the Treaty Monitoring Bodies
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Resources
In this section you will find resources, tools, publications, and useful links from the SRI and SRI partners as well as other organizations and UN bodies.
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Databases / Tools
The SRI has developed digital tools to assist advocates, policy-makers, UN agencies, and diplomats in their sexual and reproductive health and rights advocacy at national and international levels.
Databases / Tools
Databases / Tools
Databases / Tools
Databases / Tools
The Sexual Rights UPR Database compiles all the sexual rights related recommendations and references made during the Universal Periodic Review through several categories, including: State under Review, Recommending State, Review Documentation, Sessions, and Thematic Issue. It also includes information on the implementation of recommendations to help track each State’s progress on human rights. It can be used to reveal overall trends in content and quality of recommendations, which are essential for refining the process and addressing gaps related to laws and policies on sexual and reproductive rights.
The database is updated on a rolling basis following the adoption of each UPR outcome report.
The Sexual Rights Law and Policy Database is an online database that compiles information from national Constitutions, laws, and policies related to the full spectrum of sexual rights, including reproductive rights and sexual and reproductive health. It seeks to help strengthen the respect, protection, and fulfillment of sexual rights at the national, regional, and international levels. Users can search by country or issue and can compare across countries.
The innovative toolkit Sexual Rights & The Universal Periodic Review: A Toolkit for Advocates was developed as part of an ongoing collaboration between IPPF and the SRI to advance sexual rights and reproductive rights through the United Nations Universal Periodic Review process (which is used to review each of the 193 Member States of the UN on its entire human rights record every four and a half years). The UPR is a powerful tool to hold governments accountable for sexual and reproductive rights violations and to advocate for changes to particular laws and policies that impact on human rights related to sexuality.
Launched in July 2013, the UN Resources Tool is an initiative developed collaboratively by the International Planned Parenthood Federation/Western Hemisphere Region and the Sexual Rights Initiative. This Tool aims to improve the accessibility of UN language and information in order to advance sexual and reproductive health and rights during intergovernmental negotiations.
Library
Use this form below to search SRI resources, publications and reports by topic, country, mechanism, etcetera.
Search
About Us
The Sexual Rights Initiative is a coalition of national and regional organizations based in Canada, India, Egypt, Argentina, that work together to advance human rights related to sexuality at the United Nations.
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Our Work
The Sexual Rights Initiative (SRI) is a coalition of national and regional organizations based in Canada, Poland, India, Argentina, and South Africa with an office in Geneva that has been advocating for the advancement of human rights in relation to gender and sexuality in the UN human rights system since 2006.
Our Aims
The SRI aims to advance sexual rights as a particular set of rights and as a cross-cutting issue within international law, specifically in the work of the United Nations Human Rights Council, the Universal Periodic Review, the Special Procedures, and the Treaty Monitoring Bodies. The SRI combines feminist analysis with important advances in the recognition of human rights of women, all marginalized communities, and young people.
In order to advance the dialogue and advocacy on sexual rights, we endeavour to bring together perspectives that in the past have co-existed but have not collaborated on sexual rights. The SRI is well-placed to carry out this work as one of few groups consistently contributing to the work of the Human Rights Council, the Special Procedures, the Universal Periodic Review, and Treaty Monitoring Bodies seeking to advance a broad range of sexual rights from an intersectional and feminist perspective.
As NGO participation in the UN human rights system remains largely dominated by organizations based in the Global North, the SRI seeks to provide a more global point of view based on the experiences of SRI partner organizations. The SRI further aims to create a political space for advocacy on sexual rights by adopting feminist principles, bridging Southern, Northern, and Eastern perspectives and incorporating diverse views. We acknowledge that different kinds of power exist and are at play in all our interactions and strive to provide all partners with equal and genuine opportunities for decision-making, engagement, and visibility.
What We Do
The SRI works in partnership with local, national, and regional organizations and networks of sexual and reproductive rights activists to advocate for the inclusion of sexual rights dimensions in:
- Human Rights Council resolutions, debates, panels, and side-events
- Special Procedures reports, communications, and country visits
- Studies and reports prepared by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
- Treaty monitoring bodies’ general comments and country reviews
- Universal Periodic Review stakeholder reports and State recommendations
Our Issues
The SRI is committed to advancing every person’s right to sexual and reproductive health and well-being, to bodily autonomy, and to have control over and to make free and informed decisions on all matters related to sexuality, reproduction, and gender, free from violence, coercion, and discrimination.
The SRI regularly engages on a wide variety of sexual rights issues, including (but not limited to):
- Comprehensive sexuality education
- Criminalization and other restrictions on safe abortion
- Early and forced marriage
- Gender based violence and discrimination
- HIV/AIDS and human rights
- Maternal mortality & morbidity
- Rights of sex workers
- Sexual rights of adolescents and young people
- Universal access to sexual and reproductive health information, education, supplies, and services
- Violence and discrimination based on the exercise of one’s sexuality
Advocacy at the UN
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The SRI works in partnership with local and national sexual and reproductive health and rights organizations and activist networks to advocate for the inclusion of sexual rights dimensions in the work of treaty monitoring bodies and in the following Human Rights Council mechanisms:
- Resolutions and debates
- Panels and side events
- Special Procedures
- Universal Periodic Review
- Studies and reports prepared by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
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Training
Do you want to learn more about our work in the UN human rights system or collaborate with us? Find out about training opportunities and webinars here!
Achievements
- Collaborated with hundreds of local and regional activists to consistently raise sexual rights at the Human Rights Council
- Successfully advocated for first ever references in UN resolutions to: comprehensive sexuality education, adultery, marital rape, intimate partner violence, rights to bodily integrity and autonomy, the right to sexual and reproductive health, and many other substantive language gains related to sexual rights
- Integrally involved in the Human Rights Council’s decision to take up the issue of maternal mortality, which recognizes maternal mortality and morbidity as a human rights matter
- Since the creation of the Universal Periodic Review, the SRI has submitted close to 200 reports, all of them in partnership with local/national organizations or activists, and addressing a wide variety of sexual rights issues
- Developed innovative digital tools to enhance sexual rights advocacy, including the Sexual Rights Law and Policy Database, UN Resources Tool, and the Sexual Rights UPR database
- Worked to ensure that the Human Rights Council explicitly included sexual and reproductive health within the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the Right to Health
- Provided several trainings, seminars, and workshops on sexual and reproductive health and rights for NGOs, Missions, Capitals and UN agencies
Geneva Office
The SRI coalition has had a permanent presence in Geneva since 2012 to support the work of the partners.
Contact our office at: [email protected]
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Previous Partners
SRI would like to thank previous partners for their contribution to the coalition.
Coalition of African Lesbians
https://www.facebook.com/CoalitionCAL/Image
Get Involved
Find out how to engage with UN human rights mechanisms, collaborate with the SRI, or stay up-to-date.
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Current Job Postings
Thank you for your interest. Please keep checking back for future opportunities.
Collaborating with the SRI
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The Sexual Rights Initiative (SRI) has collaborated with nearly 200 organizations, groups, and individuals in over 100 countries to prepare stakeholder submissions for the Universal Periodic Review (UPR).
This has proven to be a successful strategy to maximize advocacy efforts—sexual rights advocates in the country being reviewed have first-hand knowledge of the national context and the SRI has extensive knowledge of the Human Rights Council. By combining our strengths, sexual rights issues become more visible during the UPR process. Starting in 2018, the SRI has also increased its participation in Treaty Monitoring Body (TMB) reviews.
For both the Universal Periodic Review and the Treaty Monitoring Body reviews, the SRI can provide technical assistance with the preparation of UPR stakeholder submissions and TMB shadow reports, practical guidance regarding advocacy with UN Member States and TMB members, advice to advocates attending TMB sessions or the Human Rights Council for the UPR, and information on important deadlines and requirements for participation. Collaboration with the SRI on stakeholder reports has no cost implications.
Please contact us at [email protected] if you would like to collaborate with the SRI for your country’s UPR or TMB review.
Training
SRI delivers human rights trainings related to sexuality and gender to advocates and activists from different countries, contexts, and constituencies. We can also play a supportive role for advocates wanting to deepen their engagement at the Human Rights Council, Universal Periodic Review, Special Procedures, and Treaty Monitoring Bodies through information-sharing, advice, and opportunities for joint initiatives.
We can tailor workshops, seminars, and trainings to your needs and budget and also provide orientation sessions for activists new to Geneva spaces.
Watch this space for upcoming training opportunities and webinars or contact us at [email protected] for more information.
Front page
The Sexual Rights Initiative is a coalition of national and regional organizations based in Canada, India, Egypt, Argentina that work together to advance human rights related to sexuality at the United Nations.
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Did you miss it? Here’s what happened at HRC 56!
The 56th session of the UN Human Rights Council took place from 18 June to 12 July 2024. The ongoing liquidity crisis experienced by the United Nations, which deeply affects the Council’s functioning, has once again put civil society organisations under an additional and significant burden - especially when it comes to accessing hybrid modalities and organising side events.
In this post, you will find information on some of the key sexual rights-related:
Latest News & Resources
We urge the government to prioritise the development of a national plan for the inclusion of comprehensive sexuality education in school curricula as a mandatory subject. Access to comprehensive sexuality education will empower them to make informed decisions about their bodies, sexual and reproductive health, sexuality, and relationships. Comprehensive sexuality education is crucial for promoting gender equality, reducing violence, and enhancing the well-being of students across North Macedonia.
We regret that there were no recommendations explicitly made on the rights of sex workers. Whilst current legislation does not criminalize sex work, the 2008 Law on the Suppression of Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation prohibits activities associated with sex work, leading many to believe that sex work itself is illegal.This Panel is unique in its design as a self-assessing mechanism for the Council to evaluate its progress in integrating a gender perspective in all its mechanisms. However, we found that it has lost its internal focus and moved away from its mandated goal.The principle of universality must be applied to challenge which families are considered to be worthy of state protection and therefore which family members are entitled to human rights, according to the state. At this very moment, we are witnessing families being decimated in service of a racist, colonial state and its expansionist aspirations. Are these family members not entitled to human rights?
Training
Do you want to learn more about our work in the UN human rights system or collaborate with us? Find out about training opportunities and webinars here!
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Our Databases
The SRI has developed several databases to assist advocates, policy-makers, UN agencies, and diplomats in their sexual and reproductive health and rights advocacy at national and international levels.
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Uploaded on August 21, 2024
The 48th session of the Universal Periodic will take place from 20 to 31 January 2025. 14 Countries are under review during the session: Italy, the Gambia, Fiji, Kazakhstan, Iran, El Salvador, Bolivia, San Marino, Angola, Madagascar, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iraq and Egypt. In collaboration with our partners, the SRI submitted reports for Angola and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Databases and Tools
Front page
The Sexual Rights Initiative is a coalition of national and regional organizations based in Canada, India, Egypt, Argentina that work together to advance human rights related to sexuality at the United Nations.
Image
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Did you miss it? Here’s what happened at HRC 56!
The 56th session of the UN Human Rights Council took place from 18 June to 12 July 2024. The ongoing liquidity crisis experienced by the United Nations, which deeply affects the Council’s functioning, has once again put civil society organisations under an additional and significant burden - especially when it comes to accessing hybrid modalities and organising side events.
In this post, you will find information on some of the key sexual rights-related:
Latest News & Resources
We urge the government to prioritise the development of a national plan for the inclusion of comprehensive sexuality education in school curricula as a mandatory subject. Access to comprehensive sexuality education will empower them to make informed decisions about their bodies, sexual and reproductive health, sexuality, and relationships. Comprehensive sexuality education is crucial for promoting gender equality, reducing violence, and enhancing the well-being of students across North Macedonia.
We regret that there were no recommendations explicitly made on the rights of sex workers. Whilst current legislation does not criminalize sex work, the 2008 Law on the Suppression of Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation prohibits activities associated with sex work, leading many to believe that sex work itself is illegal.This Panel is unique in its design as a self-assessing mechanism for the Council to evaluate its progress in integrating a gender perspective in all its mechanisms. However, we found that it has lost its internal focus and moved away from its mandated goal.The principle of universality must be applied to challenge which families are considered to be worthy of state protection and therefore which family members are entitled to human rights, according to the state. At this very moment, we are witnessing families being decimated in service of a racist, colonial state and its expansionist aspirations. Are these family members not entitled to human rights?
Training
Do you want to learn more about our work in the UN human rights system or collaborate with us? Find out about training opportunities and webinars here!
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Our Databases
The SRI has developed several databases to assist advocates, policy-makers, UN agencies, and diplomats in their sexual and reproductive health and rights advocacy at national and international levels.
Resources library search
Search
Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights
CREA
Akahatá
Coalition of African Lesbians
Foundation for Women and Family Planning
The Foundation for Women and Family Planning advocates for sexual and reproductive health and rights including the right to legal abortion, access to modern contraception and sexuality education, at the national, regional and international levels. It conducts permanent monitoring of the observance of human rights in Poland and informs public opinion and relevant institutions in the country and abroad about the results.
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Active partnerNo-
Published on July 18, 2024The 56th session of the UN Human Rights Council took place from 18 June to 12 July 2024. The ongoing liquidity crisis experienced by the United Nations, which deeply affects the Council’s functioning, has once again put civil society organisations under an additional and significant burden - especially when it comes to accessing hybrid modalities and organising side events. Below, you will find information on some of the key sexual rights-related: Resolutions Panel discussions Oral statements UPR Outcomes Side Events
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Published on July 18, 2024La sesión 56° del Consejo de Derechos Humanos (CDH 56) se desarrolló del 18 de junio al 12 de julio de 2024. La crisis de liquidez que sufren las Naciones Unidas y que afecta profundamente el financiamiento del Consejo, una vez más representó una carga adicional y significativa para la sociedad civil, sobre todo en cuanto a su acceso a modalidades híbridas (de participación) y su capacidad de organizar eventos paralelos. A continuación, encontrarán información sobre algunas cuestiones relacionadas con derechos sexuales en: Resoluciones Mesas redondas Intervenciones orales Resultados del EPU Eventos paralelos
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Published on July 18, 2024La 56e session du Conseil des droits de l'homme des Nations unies s'est tenue du 18 juin au 12 juillet 2024. La crise budgétaire que connaissent actuellement les Nations unies et qui affecte lourdement le fonctionnement du Conseil, a une fois de plus imposé aux organisations de la société civile une charge supplémentaire et importante, en particulier lorsqu'il s’est agit d'accéder aux modalités hybrides et l’organisations des événements parallèles. Vous trouverez ci-dessous des informations sur certains des principaux événements en rapport avec les droits sexuels : Résolutions Tables rondes Déclarations orales Résultats des examens périodiques universels (EPU) Événements parallèles
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Published on July 05, 2024We welcome the recommendations made to Malaysia on the ratification of the 1951 Refugee Convention (and its protocol) and regret the noting of the same. Malaysia currently fails to adequately recognise refugee status, and UNHCR registration provides only limited protection against arbitrary arrest, detention and refoulement. Malaysia is yet to provide clarity on how it determines the refugee status of detainees, and indeed the UNHCR has been denied access to immigration detention centres for almost five years now. This is concerning given current policies and the prevailing climate of xenophobia towards refugees and migrants.
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Published on July 04, 2024Alentamos a México a que las políticas y leyes que adopte tengan un enfoque interseccional, ya que son numerosas las violaciones a los derechos humanos donde además del género o la orientación sexual y la identidad de género, aspectos como la clase, el origen étnico, el estatus migratorio u otros factores incrementan sustancialmente las vulnerabilidades de las personas que sufren discriminación.
