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HRC 60: Joint Statement to the Interactive dialogue with the Expert Mechanism on the right to development
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Statement

A solid people-centered approach to the right to development must challenge the dominant global economic paradigm and definition of economic growth, prioritise resource distribution within and between states. The Expert Mechanisms’ recognition of collective rights and responsibilities and systemic violations of human rights of people subjected to colonialism, as well as insistence upon accountability for international development policies, places them in a unique position to do so.

Right to development

Colonialism

Economic justice
HRC 60: Akãhatã's Statement to the Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the Right to Developement
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Statement

We regret that the report omits key issues such as the lack of legal recognition of LGBTIQ+ families and the resulting violation of their right to care, recently recognized as an autonomous right by the Inter-American Court, affecting both adults and their children.

Sexual orientation and gender identity

Comprehensive sexuality education

Sexual and reproductive health and rights

Adolescents and youth

Abortion

Climate Change
HRC 60: Declaración de Akãhatã: Diálogo interactivo con el relator especial sobre el derecho al desarrollo
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Statement

Sin embargo, lamentamos que el informe omita temas clave como la falta de reconocimiento legal de las familias LGBTIQ+ y la consecuente vulneración de su derecho al cuidado, recientemente reconocido como derecho autónomo por la Corte Interamericana, afectando tanto a personas adultas como a sus hijes.

Sexual orientation and gender identity

Comprehensive sexuality education

Sexual and reproductive health and rights

Adolescents and youth

Aborto

Climate Change
HRC 60 SRI Side-Event: Sexual Rights at the UN HRC: Past, Present, and Future
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Event

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

Sexual and reproductive health and rights

Civil society participation
Here’s What to Expect at HRC 60
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News

The 60th session of the UN Human Rights Council will take place from 8 September to 8 October 2025. Despite unprecedented hardship, the HRC’s 60th session will also tackle issues like preventable maternal mortality and morbidity, including the update to the technical guidance on the application of a human rights-based approach to the elimination of preventable maternal mortality and morbidity, prepared by OHCHR and with a resolution expected to be adopted. This presents a crucial opportunity to reaffirm global commitments to reproductive health and rights, especially as crises heighten risks for pregnant persons.

Sexual and reproductive health and rights

Maternal mortality and morbidity

War & Armed conflicts
Qué esperar de la sesión 60° del CDH
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News

La 60° sesión del Consejo de Derechos Humanos de la ONU se desarrollará del 8 de septiembre al 8 de octubre de 2025. Pese a estas dificultades sin precedentes, la sesión 60° del CDH también abordará temas como la mortalidad y morbilidad maternas prevenibles, lo que incluirá una actualización preparada por la OACNUDH de las orientaciones técnicas para la aplicación de un enfoque basado en derechos humanos para la eliminación de la mortalidad y la morbilidad maternas prevenibles. Se espera que también se adopte una resolución sobre este tema y eso presenta una oportunidad importante para reafirmar los compromisos mundiales con la salud y los derechos reproductivos, sobre todo cuando las crisis agravan los riesgos para las personas embarazadas.

Sexual and reproductive health and rights

Maternal mortality and morbidity

War & Armed conflicts
La 60e session du Conseil des droits de l’homme : à quoi s’attendre ?
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News

La 60e session du Conseil des droits de l'homme des Nations unies se tiendra du 8 septembre au 8 octobre 2025. Malgré un contexte difficile sans précédent, la 60e session du Conseil des droits de l'homme n'en traitera pas moins de questions essentielles, au premier rang desquelles la mortalité et la morbidité maternelles évitables. À cet égard, la mise à jour du guide technique (élaboré par le HCDH) sur l'approche fondée sur les droits humains pour leur élimination, sera examinée, et une résolution devrait être adoptée sur le sujet. Cette occasion est cruciale pour réaffirmer les engagements mondiaux en matière de santé et de droits reproductifs, d'autant plus que les crises exacerbent les risques encourus par les personnes enceintes.

Sexual and reproductive health and rights

Maternal mortality and morbidity

War & Armed conflicts
SRI Submission to OHCHR: Input on the technical guidance on the elimination of preventable maternal mortality and morbidity
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This submission is made by the Sexual Rights Initiative (SRI) in response to OHCHR's call for input to update the technical guidance on the application of a human rights-based approach to the elimination of preventable maternal mortality and morbidity.

Submissions

Maternal mortality and morbidity

Right to health
Everything You Need to Know About UPR 49
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Analysis

The 49th session of the Universal Periodic was held from 28 April to 09 May 2025. 14 Countries were reviewed during the session: Kyrgyzstan, Kiribati, Guinea, Lao, Spain, Lesotho, Kenya, Armenia, Guinea-Bissau, Sweden, Grenada, Türkiye, Guyana and Kuwait. In collaboration with our partners, the SRI submitted reports for Armenia, Kenya and Sweden.
Todo lo que necesitan saber sobre EPU 49
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Analysis

La sesión 49° del Examen Periódico Universal tuvo lugar del 28 de abril al 9 de mayo de 2025. En esta sesión fueron examinados 14 países: Kirguistán, Kiribati, Guinea, Laos, España, Lesoto, Kenia, Armenia, Guinea-Bissau, Suecia, Granada, Türkiye, Guyana y Kuwait.
Tout savoir sur l’EPU 49
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Analysis

La 49e session de l'Examen périodique universel s'est tenue du 28 avril au 9 mai 2025. 14 pays ont été examinés au cours de cette session : le Kirghizistan, Kiribati, la Guinée, le Laos, l'Espagne, le Lesotho, le Kenya, l'Arménie, la Guinée-Bissau, la Suède, la Grenade, la Turquie, la Guyane et le Koweït.
Everything You Need to Know About UPR 48
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Analysis

The 48th session of the Universal Periodic Review was held from 20 January 2025 to 31 January 2025. 13 Countries were reviewed during the session: Italy, El Salvador, the Gambia, Bolivia, Fiji, San Marino, Kazakhstan, Angola, Iran, Madagascar, Iraq, Slovenia, Egypt, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. In collaboration with our partners, the SRI submitted reports for Angola, Bolivia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Todo lo que necesitan saber del EPU 48
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Analysis

La sesión 48° del Examen Periódico Universal tuvo lugar del 20 al 31 de enero de 2025. En esta sesión fueron examinados 13 países: Italia, El Salvador, Gambia, Bolivia, Fiyi, San Marino, Kazajistán, Angola, Irán, Madagascar, Irak, Eslovenia, Egipto, y Bosnia y Herzegovina. In collaboration with our partners, the SRI submitted reports for Angola, Bolivia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Tout savoir sur l’EPU 48
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Analysis

La 48e session de l'Examen périodique universel s'est tenue du 20 janvier 2025 au 31 janvier 2025. Au total treize pays ont été examinés : l'Italie, le Salvador, la Gambie, la Bolivie, les Fidji, Saint-Marin, le Kazakhstan, l'Angola, l'Iran, Madagascar, l'Irak, la Slovénie, l'Égypte et la Bosnie-Herzégovine. In collaboration with our partners, the SRI submitted reports for Angola, Bolivia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Did you miss it? Here’s what happened at HRC 59!
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News

HRC 59 comes at a moment of deep crisis for the global human rights ecosystem. The system meant to protect human rights is not just under attack — it is on the brink of losing its legitimacy and credibility. The lack of accountability for the ongoing genocide in Gaza and the regression of human rights norms, coupled with the liquidity crisis in the UN, have reduced spaces for activists and civil society. We join others who have expressed grave concern about the UN’s financial situation throughout the session, and we deplore that this crisis is due in part by the failure of some states to pay their contribution to the system in full and on time.
¿Se lo perdieron? ¡Esto es lo que ocurrió en CDH 59!
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News

CDH 59 ocurre en un momento de profunda crisis en el ecosistema global de los derechos humanos. El sistema pensado para proteger los derechos humanos no sólo está siendo atacado, sino que está al borde de perder su legitimidad y su credibilidad. La falta de rendición de cuentas frente al genocidio que persiste en Gaza y los retrocesos en cuanto a las normas de derechos humanos, sumados a la crisis de liquidez en la ONU, hacen que se reduzca el espacio de activistas y sociedad civil. Nos sumamos a quienes ya han expresado su grave preocupación acerca de la situación financiera de la ONU durante toda la sesión, y deploramos el hecho de que esta crisis se debe en gran medida a que algunos estados no pagan a tiempo y en su totalidad sus aportes al sistema.
Vous l'avez manqué ? Les temps forts de la 59e session du Conseil des droits de l’homme
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News

Le 59e session du CDH intervient à un moment où l'écosystème mondial des droits humains fait face à une crise multidimensionnelle. Le système destiné à protéger les droits humains n'est pas seulement attaqué, mais aussi au bord de perdre sa légitimité et sa crédibilité. L’absence de responsabilité face au génocide en cours à Gaza, la régression des normes relatives aux droits humains et la crise de liquidité de l’ONU ont réduit les espaces pour les militant·es et la société civile. Nous nous joignons à ceux qui ont exprimé leur profonde inquiétude quant à la situation financière de l'ONU tout au long de la session, et nous dénonçons le défaut de paiement des contributions par certains États qui paralyse le système.
HRC 59: Joint statement to Angola’s UPR adoption
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Statement

Angola must address violence against women from a broader social justice perspective and strengthen prevention work by getting to the core of the patriarchal ideologies that sustain the violence, countering harmful narratives, and uprooting the norms that perpetuate it.

Gender-based violence

Sexual violence

Domestic violence

Obstetric violence
HRC 59: Joint statement to Bosnia and Herzegovina’s UPR adoption
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Statement

Bosnia and Herzegovina must undergo extensive legislative reform, and adopt comprehensive policy instruments which inter alia improve its recognition of the rights to private life of same-sex couples, and the rights of transgender and intersex persons to healthcare and legal gender recognition.

Sexual and reproductive health and rights

Sexual orientation and gender identity

Disability

Comprehensive sexuality education

Gender-based discrimination
HRC 59: Joint statement to Bolivia’s UPR adoption
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Statement

We are deeply concerned that the State, by not recognizing these restrictions, did not accept recommendation 122.274, claiming that there is no legal provision that discriminates against transgender people. Likewise, the lack of acceptance of recommendations concerning civil marriage for LGBTIQ+ people, without valid legal justification, disregards the constitutional rule.

Sexual orientation and gender identity

Gender-based discrimination
CDH 59: Declaración conjunta para la adopción del EPU de Bolivia
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Statement

Vemos con alta preocupación que el Estado, no reconociendo estas restricciones, no haya aceptado la recomendación 122.274 alegando que no existe ninguna disposición legal que discrimine a personas transgénero; Asimismo, la falta de aceptación de las recomendaciones en torno al matrimonio civil de personas LGBTIQ+ sin un sustento jurídico válido, desconociendo el bloque de constitucionalidad.

Sexual orientation and gender identity

Gender-based discrimination
PRESS RELEASE: Only Rights Can Stop the Wrongs: A Protest for Sex Worker Rights
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Call to action

On Thursday 26 June 2025, sex workers and allies will gather for an important protest at the iconic Broken Chair monument, Place des Nations, from 18:00 to 19:30.

Under the banner “Only Rights Can Stop the Wrongs”, this demonstration will honour and celebrate the powerful legacy of sex worker rights activism and its hard-won victories, while also calling attention to the ongoing struggle to recognise the rights of sex workers today.

Sex work
COMMUNIQUÉ DE PRESSE: Seuls les droits peuvent mettre fin aux injustices : Une manifestation pour les droits des travailleurs⋅euses du sexe
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Call to action

Le jeudi 26 juin 2025, les travailleurs du sexe et leurs alliés se rassembleront pour une importante manifestation au monument emblématique de la Broken Chair, Place des Nations, de 18h00 à 19h30.

Sous la bannière « Seuls les droits peuvent mettre fin aux injustices », cette manifestation honorera et célébrera le puissant héritage de l'activisme en faveur des droits des travailleurs⋅euses du sexe et ses victoires durement acquises, tout en attirant l'attention sur la lutte en cours pour la reconnaissance de leurs droits aujourd'hui.

Sex work
HRC 59: 3rd Statement by the Sex Workers' Delegation to the ID with Special Rapporteur on VAW
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Statement

Sex workers have a right to a safe working environment. We are women, we are mothers, we are workers. But due to criminalisation and discrimination, going back home alive everyday is not assured.

As sex workers, we demand respect for our consent when we say we choose sex work and when we demand the full decriminalisation of our work for our rights, health and safety.

Sex work

Gender-based violence

Decriminalization
HRC 59: 2nd Statement by the Sex Workers' Delegation to the ID with Special Rapporteur on VAW
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Statement

The report on consent presents overly broad generalisations without clear alternatives, grouping diverse industries under uniform criticism. Her paternalistic analysis denies the decision-making autonomy of women, effectively denying their agency under the guise of protection. This protectionist analysis, which is reflected in the Special Rapporteur’s work, scapegoats trans and gender diverse people, creating an artificial hierarchy of rights.

Sex work

Bodily autonomy

Protectionism

Sexual orientation and gender identity