This report is a joint submission by autonomous collectives in Botswana, whose work is centred on the promotion and protection of LGBTIQ persons, women in the margins of society and young queer persons ’rights and freedoms, with the support of Iranti, Sexual Rights Initiative and Southern Africa Litigation Centre.
The 43rd session of the Universal Periodic review begins on 1 May 2023. The working group session will take place from 1 to 12 May 2023. 14 Countries will be under review during the session: France,Tonga, Romania, Mali, Botswana, the Bahamas, Burundi, Luxembourg, Barbados, Montenegro, the United Arab Emirates, Israel, Liechtenstein and Serbia. In collaboration with our partners, the SRI collaborated on reports for Romania and Botswana.
UPR Submissions 35th Session
In response to the Special Rapporteur’s call for input on the topic, SRI made a submission calling for domestic violence to continue being recognized as a form of gender-based violence that amounts to torture and/or degrading treatment. The submission outlines relevant human rights standards and challenges the public/private dichotomy that has historically underscored international human rights law.
Country: The Gambia
Collaborators: SRI, Women In Liberation and Leadership, African Men for Sexual Health and Rights
Violence and discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression
Country: Kazakhstan
Collaborators: SRI, The Legal Center for Women’s Initiatives “Sana Sezim”
Domestic violence, sexual and reproductive rights, comprehensive sexuality education, access to SRH services
HRC29 - Annual Day of Discussion on Human Rights of Women
HRC30 - Item 6: Universal Periodic Review Outcomes: Croatia
Human Rights Council – 30th session
Item 6: Universal Periodic Review Outcomes: Bulgaria
Statement by Action Canada for Population and Development
Human Rights Council – 32st session
Universal Periodic Review – Belgium 17 June 2016
Statement by Action Canada for Population and Development
UPR Submissions - 23th session
Report of the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
Country: Ireland
Collaborators: SRI, Abortion Rights Campaign Ireland, Sex Workers Alliance Ireland
Key Words: human rights, sexual and reproductive health and rights, abortion, comprehensive sexuality education, sex work, bodily autonomy, Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act
Country: Sudan
Collaborators: SRI, Anonymous Contributor
Key Words: Child and forced marriage, FGM, sexuality education, reproductive health, HIV/AIDS
Human Rights Council – Agenda Item 6 – Universal Periodic Review – Norway
Statement by Action Canada for Population and Development
UPR Submissions - 2nd session
Human Rights Council 31st session
Agenda Item 6 Universal Periodic Review of GEORGIA
Statement by Action Canada for Population and Development
Human Rights Council – 33rd session
Many practices and norms that discriminate against women and other groups of people that have historically suffered discrimination and persecution are justified by reference to tradition, such as so-called honour killings, dowry-related violence and homophobic violence. Several States have taken actions to dismantle such traditional values, norms and practices, such as laws and programmes to end domestic violence and female genital mutilation, decriminalization of consensual sexual activity and media campaigns to counter homophobia.
Find out which human rights recommendations were accepted, noted or deferred by Haiti, Iceland, Lithuania, Moldova (Republic of), South Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Timor-Leste, Togo, Uganda, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), and Zimbabwe during the latest UN Universal Periodic Review.
The 26th session of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) was held at the UN Human Rights Council, in Geneva, from 31 October-11 November 2016.
SRI Oral Statements made during the 33rd session of the Human Rights Council during the Consideration of the Outcome of the Universal Periodic Review of Ireland, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Sudan, Tajikistan, and Thailand. The UPR outcome for each State reviewed during UPR25 is adopted during this session of the HRC. The outcome report indicates which recommendations the State agrees to implement, and its responses to other recommendations.
SRI Statement on Ireland, UPR Report Consideration – 00:38:13
The 25th session of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) was held at the UN Human Rights Council, in Geneva, from 2-13 May 2016. Below are some sexual rights related highlights from each UPR25 review.
During the 31st session of the UN Human Rights Council, the SRI collaborated with national-level organizations and advocates to deliver oral statements regarding outcomes from the Universal Periodic Review ‘s (UPR) of five countries:
The 24th session of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) was held at the UN Human Rights Council, in Geneva, from 18-29 January 2016. Here is a recap of sexual rights at UPR24.
Fourteen countries were reviewed during UPR24 including: Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Palau, Paraguay, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands and Somalia.
UPR23: Joint stakeholder submissions in collaboration with national organizations
Submission by the Sexual Rights Initiative for the Human Rights Council report on the protection of the family and the contribution of families in realizing the right to an adequate standard of living
During the 30th session of the UN Human Rights Council, the SRI collaborated with national-level organizations and advocates to deliver oral statements regarding outcomes from the Universal Periodic Review ‘s (UPR) of Belarus, Bulgaria, Croatia, Malawi, Maldives, Panama, and the USA.
The SRI also delivered statements pertaining to:
The Sexual Rights Initiative welcomes the adoption by the United Nations Human Rights Council of three resolutions that advance gender equality, empowerment and the human rights of women and girls. These resolutions are entitled:
The Sexual Rights Initiative condemns the adoption of the Protection of the Family resolution by the UN Human Rights Council on Friday the 3rd of July. This is a set back to the advancement of the human rights of individuals as it seeks to elevate the family as an institution in need of protection without acknowledging the harms and human rights abuses that are known to occur within families, or recognizing that diverse forms of family exist.
The 29th session of the UN Human Rights Council will take place from the 15th of June to the 3rd of July 2015.
The 22nd session of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) was held at the UN Human Rights Council, in Geneva, from 4 – 21 May 2015.
Fourteen countries were reviewed during UPR22 including: Andorra, Belarus, Bulgaria, Croatia, Honduras, Jamaica, Liberia, Libya, Malawi, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Mongolia, Panama, and the United States of America.
The 25th session of the UN Human Rights Council took place from March 3 – 28 2014. The first week of the four-week session comprised of a ‘High-level segment’ during which high-level dignitaries addressed the Council. Below is a round-up of sexual rights-related news from the 25th session of the Council.
Highlights
SRI and WILPF respond to the ‘protection of the family’ initiative
During the 25th session of the UN Human Rights Council, the Sexual Rights Initiative (SRI) and the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) coordinated a response the “protection of the family” joint statement initiated during the session.
In 2013, in response to the request from the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) for submissions on ‘how a better understanding and appreciation of traditional values of dignity, freedom and responsibility could contribute to the promotion and protection of human rights,’ the SRI submitted a report focusing on the many practices and norms that discriminate against women and other groups of people.
SRI collaborates with national organizations and activists in preparation for UPR19