As we embark on another year of activism for sexual rights, we wanted to share with you our highlights of 2022. While the UN human rights system continues to be confronted by multiple challenges –from funding shortages, geopolitical tensions and polarisation and attempts to undermine multilateralism to the presence and influence of regressive and conservative actors, we have made steadfast progress in advancing sexual rights in this system. Read below for our highlights of 2022.
The 42nd session of the Universal Periodic review begins on the 23rd of January 2023. The working group session will take place from 23 January to 3 February 2023. 13 Countries will be under review during the session: Czechia, Gabon, Benin, Switzerland, Argentina, Ghana, Guatemala, the Republic of Korea, Pakistan, Japan, Sri Lanka and Zambia. In collaboration with our partners, the SRI collaborated on reports for Guatemala, Japan, Pakistan, Switzerland and Zambia.
The 41st session of the Universal Periodic review begins on the 7th of November 2022, and this session marks the beginning of the fourth cycle of the UPR. The working group session will take place from 7 November to 18 November 2022. 14 Countries will be under review during the session: Bahrain, Ecuador, Tunisia, Morocco, Indonesia, Finland, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, India, Brazil, Philippines, Algeria, Poland, Netherlands and South Africa. In collaboration with our partners, the SRI collaborated on reports for South Africa, India, Poland and the Netherlands.
The 51st session of the UN Human Rights Council took place from 12 September to 7 October. Below you will find information on some of the key sexual rights-related:
Resolutions
Panel discussions
Oral statements
Side Events
A Conversation on Safe Abortion
Autonomy, control & self-management:
guidelines & essential policy
Side-event during the 51st session of the UN Human Rights Council
Tuesday 20 September 17:00 to 18:00 CEST
Palais des Nations, Room XXV
The 51st session of the UN Human Rights Council will take place from 12 September to 7 October.
In this post you'll be able to find information about: Anticipated sexual rights-related resolutions, panels and reports, UPR outcomes and SRI’s online events taking place during the 51st session.
2. This report is jointly submitted by nine (9) national, regional, and international civil organizations striving to promote SRHR. It highlights ongoing issues concerning SRHR in Japan with a focus on six (6) topics: access to contraceptives including emergency contraception, access to safe abortion, redress for victims of forced sterilization, discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity and expression (SOGIE), law reform of the crimes of sexual violence including rape, and universal access to comprehensive sexuality education.
In this joint submission, we examine the Government of South Africa’s human rights record since its third-cycle universal periodic review (UPR) in 2017. Specifically, we assess the government’s fulfilment of adolescent and youth sexual and reproductive health and rights. To this end, we analyse South Africa’s implementation of recommendations received relating to these issues and provide specific, action-orientated follow-up recommendations at the conclusion of this submission. Between the 9th and 10th of March 2022, 15 youth led, serving and focused organizations in South Africa convened in person and virtually to deliberate on how COVID-19 has affected the HIV, SRHR and GBV/F outcomes of adolescents and young people in their diversity.
This report is submitted by Rutgers and the Sexual Rights Initiative (SRI) and focuses on sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and rights in The Netherlands. In general, SRHR in the Netherlands are well respected, however, challenges remain with regards to the provision of comprehensive sexuality education, the persistence of sexual violence and access to information, education, contraceptives and services for marginalized groups.
This report is submitted jointly by the Federation for Women and Family Planning, Poland and the Sexual Rights Initiative. The report focuses on violations of women’s sexual and reproductive rights in Poland and the stark impact of the restriction on abortion introduced in November 2020 that amounts to quasi total abortion ban in Poland. The report also addresses barriers in access to contraception, neglect and demonisation of comprehensive sexuality education, and the decrease in ante-natal care.
This submission, prepared ahead of the 4th Cycle of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) for the Republic of India, looks at the challenges faced by the adolescent and youth population in India in relation to their sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), HIV and human rights. Three key issues, in particular, that affect the country’s adolescents and young people, i.e., SRHR including abortion for adolescents and youth with disabilities and HIV (AL&YPLHIV) have been researched. The report also provides recommendations to the state of India with respect to these issues.
Joint Civil Society Statement on Abortion at the 51st session of the UN Human Rights Council. This statement has been supported by more 450 organisations and 425 individuals as of Monday, 3 October, 2022. A full list of signatories will be published on our website shortly.
Statement by SRI's partner the Federation for Women and Family Planning to Item 4 General Debate at the 51st session of the UN Human Rights Council.
Em apoio ao próximo Dia Internacional do Aborto Seguro em 28 de setembro, a Sexual Rights Initiative, Center for Reproductive Rights, Association for Women’s Rights in Development, CHOICE for Youth and Sexuality, International Planned Parenthood Federation, Ipas, International Service for Human Rights, Youth Coalition for Sexual and Reproductive Rights, Asian-Pacific Resource and Research Centre for Women, MSI Reproductive Choices e a Swedish Association for Sexuality Education formularam uma declaração conjunta sobre o direito ao aborto a ser lida na 51ª sessão do Conselho de Direitos Humanos da ONU em Genebra.
في سياق دعمنا لليوم العالمي للإجهاض المأمون في ٢٨ أيلول/سبتمبر، أعدّت «مبادرة الحقوق الجنسيّة» و«ائتلاف العدالة الجنسيّة والإنجابيّة» و«مركز الحقوق الإنجابيّة»، و«الرّابطة لحقوق المرأة في التّنمية»، و«CHOICE للشّباب والجنسانيّة» «اتّحاد التّخطيط الأسري» و«Ipas» و«الخدمة الدولة لحقوق الإنسان» و«مركز المرأة لمنطقة آسيا والمحيط الهادئ للموارد والأبحاث» و«MSI للخيارات الإنجابية» و«الرّابطة السّويديّة للتّثقيف الجنساني» بيانًا مشتركًا بشأن حقوق الإجهاض لتقدّمه عند انعقاد الجلسة الـ٥١ لمجلس الأمم المتّحدة لحقوق الإنسان في جينيف.
In support of the upcoming International Safe Abortion Day on 28 September, the Sexual Rights Initiative, the Center for Reproductive Rights, the Association for Women’s Rights in Development, CHOICE for Youth and Sexuality, the International Planned Parenthood Federation, Ipas, the International Service for Human Rights, Youth Coalition for Sexual and Reproductive Rights, the Asian-Pacific Resource and Research Centre for Women, MSI Reproductive Choices and the Swedish Association for Sexuality Education have developed a joint statement on abortion rights for delivery at the 51st session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva
Statement by Girls Awake, Peer to Peer Uganda, the PACT, and the Sexual Rights Initiative at the 50th session of the Human Rights Council on the outcome of the Universal Periodic Review for Uganda.
Statement of Federa to the Interactive Dialogue with the Working Group on discrimination against women and girls at the 50th session of the UN Human Rights Council.
In response to the Special Rapporteur’s call for inputs on violence and its impact on the right to health, SRI made a submission addressing violations of bodily autonomy and the operation of systems of oppression as structural violence
young people continue to face challenges and need to get more involved in order for these commitments to materialize. The adolescent fertility rate remains high, at 65 births per 1,000 girls aged 15-19 years, contraceptive prevalence rate is currently 46.2%, and high levels of teenage pregnancy is reported as 100 per 1,000 with associated high levels of unsafe abortion. These figures indicate a need for a review of and improvements to sexual and reproductive health and family planning services in Seychelles. Young people are also among the most vulnerable regarding Gender-Based Violence as substantial proportions are victim of sexual abuse. Moreover, these gaps are exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and prevent us from reaching our full potential.
In support of the upcoming International Safe Abortion Day on September 28, civil society organisations have developed a joint statement on abortion rights for delivery at the 48th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.
Please note that an abbreviated version of this statement with the updated number of signatories will be delivered orally on October 4, 2021 at the Human Rights Council.
In response to the Special Rapporteur’s call for contributions, SRI made a submission locating the impact of COVID-19 on the right to sexual and reproductive health within a broader context of racial capitalism, patriarchy, colonialism, ableism and austerity.
Statement on behalf of the Federation for Women and Family Planning from Poland during the 47th regular session of the Human Rights Council.
All people in Canada have a human right to safe, legal, affordable, and accessible abortion care. While the federal government and many provincial governments declared abortion an essential service at the start of the pandemic, little has been done by governments to ensure that people in Canada continue to be able to access the SRH services, including abortion care, that they need. In the face of mounting anti-abortion tactics, it is critical that governments prioritize dismantling the barriers to SRH services and abortion care.
The SRI collaborated on submissions for Eswatini, Hungary, Samoa, Sudan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, and Papua New Guinea for the 39th Universal Periodic Review (UPR) session.
JOINT CIVIL SOCIETY STATEMENT
45TH SESSION OF THE UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL
INTERNATIONAL SAFE ABORTION DAY 2020
In support of the upcoming International Safe Abortion Day on 28 September, the Sexual Rights Initiative, the Sexual and Reproductive Justice Coalition, the Center for Reproductive Rights, the Asian-Pacific Resource and Research Centre for Women, the Association for Women’s Rights in Development, CHOICE for Youth and Sexuality, the International Planned Parenthood Federation, Ipas, the International Service for Human Rights and the Swedish Association for Sexuality Education have developed a joint statement on abortion rights for delivery at the 45th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.
Submissions for the 37th UPR for Georgia, Nepal, Rwanda and Saint Lucia
UPR Submissions 36th Session
UPR Submissions 35th Session
40th Session of the Human Rights Council
Human Rights Council – 28th session – March 2015
Item 6: Consideration of the UPR Outcome of Madagascar
Statement by Action Canada for Population and Development
Human Rights Council – 28th session – March 2015
Item 6: Consideration of the Universal Periodic Review Reports – BOLIVIA
Statement by Action Canada for Population and Development
HRC28 - Item 6: Consideration of the Islamic Republic of the UPR Outcome of EGYPT
Country: Argentina
Collaborators: SRI, Akahata
Key Words: Maternal Mortality; Abortion; Contraception; Gender-Based Violence; Sexuality Education
Country: Guatemala
Collaborators: SRI, Colectiva Mujeres en Resistencia
Key Words: Gender-Based Violence; Violence Against Lesbian Women
Country: Pakistan
Collaborators: SRI, Rahnuma Family Planning Association of Pakistan, MDG 5b Alliance
UPR Submissions - 15th session
Country: Canada
Collaborators: SRI, Canadians for Choice
Key Words: Abortion; Access to Sexual and Reproductive Health; Discrimination
Country: Colombia
Collaborators: SRI, Corporación Mujeres Al Borde
Key Words: Gender-based violence; Violence against women; Armed conflict; Femicide; Sexual Rights, Abortion; Secular State
Country: Afghanistan
Collaborators: SRI, Afghan Family Guidance Association & International Planned Parenthood Federation (South Asia Regional Office)
Key Words: HIV/AIDS; People who inject drugs; Discrimination; Stigma; Health Systems Strengthening; Access to Services; Education; Availability of Services; Accessibility of Services.
Country: Cambodia
UPR Submissions - 19th session
Country: Bolivia
Collaborators: SRI, Ipas
Key Words: Sexual and reproductive rights, maternal mortality, criminalization of abortion
Country: Bolivia
Collaborators: SRI, Colectivo LGBT de Bolivia
Key Words: Sexual orientation, gender equality, discrimination, violence, sexuality education, public policy, Bolivian legislation, hate crimes
Country: Bosnia Herzegovina
UPR Submissions - 22th session
Country: Brazil
Collaborators: SRI, Ipas
Key Words: Legal abortions, contraception, sexuality education and information on sexual and reproductive health and rights, zika
Country: Ecuador
Collaborators: SRI, Taller Comunicación Mujer
Country: Guatemala
Collaborators: SRI, La Colectiva Mujeres, Derechos Sexuales
Key Words: Violencia de género, Violencia sexual, Embarazos no deseados en adolescentes y jóvenes, Derechos humanos de niñas y adolescentes, Femicidios, Acceso a la Justicia, LGTBI
Country: Ghana
Collaborators: SRI, Sisters of the Heart, Centre for Popular Education Human Rights in Ghana (CEPEHRG)
UPR Submissions - 30th session
Country: Chile
Collaborators: SRI, Organizando Trans Diversidades
Key Words: Identidad de género; orientación sexual; personas trans; reasignación registral; discriminación; violencia; acceso a la salud; educación y trabajo. C
Country: Macedonia
Collaborators: SRI, Margini Coalition, Reactor, Health Education and Research Association
Key Words: Abortion; contraception; antenatal healthcare; access to healthcare for Romani women
UPR Submissions - 33th session
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
Country: Grenada
Collaborators: SRI, GrenCHAP, Gorundation Grenada
Key Words: LGBT People, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, discrimination based on SOGIE
Country: Guyana
Collaborators: SRI, Society Against
Key Words: Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD) LGBT People, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, discrimination based on SOGIE
Country: Kenya
Human Rights Council – 29th session – June 2015
Item 6: Consideration of the UPR Outcome of Turkey
Statement by Action Canada for Population and Development
Human Rights Council – 30th session
ITEM 8 General debate
STATEMENT
Country: Belgium
Collaborators: SRI, Sensoa
Key Words: Abortion, comprehensive sexuality education, HIV, STI, undocumented migrants, sexual violence, sexual abuse, age of consent, sexual and reproductive health and rights
Country: Singapore
Collaborators: SRI, Kaleidoscope Australia Human Rights Foundation, Safe Singapore, Sayoni, the Bear Project, Young Out
Consejo de Derechos Humanos – Sesión 32
Human Rights Council – 32st session
Universal Periodic Review – Belgium 17 June 2016
Statement by Action Canada for Population and Development
UPR Submissions - 23th session
Country: Mexico
Collaborators: SRI,Musas de Metal Grupo de Mujeres Gay A.C.
Key Words: Derechos sexuales y reproductivos; salud y diversidad sexual; LGBTTTI; mujeres; lesbianas; bisexuales; trans; discriminación; matrimonio de personas del mismo sexo; familias homoparentales y lesbomaternales; reproducción asistida; maternidad subrogada; terapias de conversión; violencia; feminicidios.
Country: Nigeria
Collaborators: SRI, Queer Alliance Nigeria
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
Country: Lithuania
Colaborators: SRI, Family Planning, Sexual Health Association of Lithuania
Key words: access to contraception; access to abortion; comprehensive sexuality education; youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health services; sexual reproductive health and rights (SRHR).
Country: Lithuania
Colaborators: SRI, National LGBT* Rights Organization LGL Sexual, ILGA-Europe
Human Rights Council: 35th session
Item 3: ID with Working Group on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women in Law and Practice Thank you Mr. President,
Action Canada makes this statement on behalf of the Sexual Rights Initiative.
Declaración de Action Canada for Population and Development – Exámen Periodico Universal
Nicaragua – Adopción de los Resultados del EPU de Nicaragua – 19 de Septiembre de 2013
Human Rights Council – 27th session – September 2014
Item 6: Consideration of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s UPR Outcome
Statement by Action Canada for Population and Development
Item 6: Consideration of Malta’s UPR Outcome - Statement by Action Canada for Population and Development
Human Rights Council – 25th session – March 2014
Consideration of Malaysia’s UPR Outcome – Statement by Action Canada for Population and Development
HRC25: Agenda item #8: statement - Follow-up and implementation of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action
Theme: 20-year anniversary of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development
HRC25: High-Level Dialogue on Sexual Violence in DRC
Thank you Mr. President.
I make this statement on behalf of the Sexual Rights Initiative.
We welcome Security Council Resolution 2122, which invites the Secretary General to commission a global study on the implementation of Resolution 1325. We also welcome HRC Resolution 24/27, highlighting the persistence of a very high level of cases of sexual violence, used as a weapon of war in conflict, and the recommendations contained therein.
UPR Submissions - 13th session
Country: Ireland
Collaborators: SRI, Irish Family Planning Association
Key Words: Abortion; Criminalization; Right to Health; Discrimination
Country: Lithuania
Collaborators: SRI, Family Planning and Sexual Health Association
Key Words: Sexuality Education; Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights of Young People
Country: Venezuela
UPR Submissions - 10th session
UPR Submissions - 9th session
UPR Submissions - 8th session
Country: Bolivia
Collaborators: SRI, Clayvert Alcon Saavedra
Key Words: Sexual Orientation; Gender Identity; Sex Work; Discrimination; Access to Health Services; Violence
Country: Bosnia and Herzegovenia
Collaborators: SRI, Organization Q
Key Words: Sexual Orientation; Gender Identity; Sexuality Education; Discrimination; Freedom of Expression; Violence
Country: Fiji
Country: Cambodia
Collaborators: SRI, People Health Development Association
Key Words: Sexual and Reproductive Rights of Young People; Sex Work; Sexual Violence; Sexual Transmitted Infections; HIV; Human Rights of Women; Discrimination Against Women; Gender-Based Violence
Country: Costa Rica
Collaborators: SRI, Mulabi-Costa Rica
UPR Submissions - 5th session
UPR Submissions - 4th session
UPR Submissions - 3rd session
UPR Submissions - 1st session
Human Rights Council 31st session
Item 6 Universal Periodic Review – Rwanda
Statement by Action Canada for Population and Development
Human Rights Council 31st session
Item 6 Universal Periodic Review – Nepal <
Statement by Action Canada for Population and Development
Human Rights Council – 33rd session
Item 6: Universal Periodic Review Outcomes: Ireland
Statement by Action Canada for Population and Development
In support of the Global Day of Action for Access to Safe and Legal Abortion, the Sexual Rights Initiative organized a side event on “Regional Developments in Abortion Law and Policy Reforms”.
Panelists highlighted regional developments in abortion law and policy reform, shed light on regional commonalities and differences that have led to change, and illustrated the ways in which different stakeholders have used human rights law to develop innovative strategies to advance the right to access safe and legal abortion in their region.
Consejo de Derechos Humanos – Sesión 34
ITEM 6 – Adopción del Examen Periódico Universal de Venezuela – 16 de marzo 2017
Declaración hecha por Action Canada for Population and Development
In his Preliminary observations during a Country visit to Croatia from 28 November to 6 December 2016, the UN Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, Mr. Dainius Pūras, recognized the importance of sexual rights stating “…I would like to underline that sexual and reproductive health rights are human rights.
Rebecca Brown speaking on the side-event Abortion Stigma, Criminalization and Restrictive Laws and Policies during the 27th Session of the Human Rights Council.
To commemorate the 2014 Global Day of Action for the Decriminalization of Abortion, the panel explores the linkages between abortion stigma, criminalization and restrictive laws and policies, and examines their impact on the rights of women, particularly adolescent girls.
Part II of question period during the side-event Abortion Stigma, Criminalization and Restrictive Laws and Policies during the 27th Session of the Human Rights Council.
To commemorate the 2014 Global Day of Action for the Decriminalization of Abortion, the panel explores the linkages between abortion stigma, criminalization and restrictive laws and policies, and examines their impact on the rights of women, particularly adolescent girls.
Chantal Umuhoza speaking on the side-event Abortion Stigma, Criminalization and Restrictive Laws and Policies during the 27th Session of the Human Rights Council.
To commemorate the 2014 Global Day of Action for the Decriminalization of Abortion, the panel explores the linkages between abortion stigma, criminalization and restrictive laws and policies, and examines their impact on the rights of women, particularly adolescent girls.
Part I of question period during the side-event Abortion Stigma, Criminalization and Restrictive Laws and Policies during the 27th Session of the Human Rights Council.
To commemorate the 2014 Global Day of Action for the Decriminalization of Abortion, the panel explores the linkages between abortion stigma, criminalization and restrictive laws and policies, and examines their impact on the rights of women, particularly adolescent girls.
Valentina Zendejas speaking on the side-event Abortion Stigma, Criminalization and Restrictive Laws and Policies during the 27th Session of the Human Rights Council.
To commemorate the 2014 Global Day of Action for the Decriminalization of Abortion, the panel explores the linkages between abortion stigma, criminalization and restrictive laws and policies, and examines their impact on the rights of women, particularly adolescent girls.
Jan Moolman peaking on the side-event Abortion Stigma, Criminalization and Restrictive Laws and Policies during the 27th Session of the Human Rights Council.
Varyanne Sika, from the Coalition of African Lesbians, explains why she is attending #HRC39 and tells us about the SRI side event on regional perspectives on abortion law and policy reform.
Emeline Dupuis (Sexual Rights Initiative) nous parle des obstacles à la participation des jeunes femmes au Conseil des droits de l'homme et à l'ONU. She also tells us about the Federation for Women and Family Planning's #HRC39 statement on abortion and sexual and reproductive rights in honor of #Sept28.
Krystyna Kacpura from the Federation for Women and Family Planning tells us about the important role of regional human rights institutions and global solidarity in advancing women's right to abortion in Poland.
In recognition of the Day of Action for Access to Safe and Legal Abortion, the panel Global Action on Safe and Legal Abortion shared different country experiences of advocating for safe and legal abortion, highlighted the human rights obligations of States to provide access to safe and legal abortion, and discussed opportunities to utilize HRC mechanisms to affect policy and legal changes at the national level.
Using human rights law and standards to advance the right to access safe and legal abortion.
9 September 2014 - Held during the 27th session of the UN Human Rights Council, to commemorate the 2014 Global Day of Action for the Decriminalization of Abortion, the panel explores the linkages between abortion stigma, criminalization and restrictive laws and policies, and examines their impact on the rights of women, particularly adolescent girls.
MODERATOR: Sandeep Prasad (ACPD/SRI)
PANELISTS: Chantal Umuhoza (Ipas Consultant); Rebecca Brown (Center for Reproductive Rights); Valentina Zendejas (IIMMHR/Instituto de Liderazgo Simone de Beauvoir); and Jan Moolman (APC).
The year 2014 was meant to be the year that ended the Program of Action adopted by the Cairo Conference for Population and Development (ICPD) in 1994. The document was a paradigm shift in understanding and framing reproductive health and rights and prioritizing individuals’ rights to choose and make decisions with regards to their own bodies.
More than 200 civil society organizations from around the world came together to sign this statement in the lead up to the Global Day of Action for Access to Safe and Legal Abortion. Read the statement below, also available in French, Spanish and Russian.
Mr. President,
We believe in a world where every woman and girl has the right to make decisions about her body, her health and her future. True gender equality cannot be achieved without access to safe, legal abortion.
Yet this vision is still far from reality, due in part to continued restrictions on safe, legal abortion in much of the world. Criminalizing abortion does not eliminate abortion; it puts women’s lives and health at risk.
Download the PDF to continue reading.
Krystyna Kacpura, Executive Director of the Federation for Women and Family Planning, tells us about the Federation's history fighting for access to abortion in Poland.
Sarah Kennell (Action Canada for Sexual Health and Rights) tells us about Canada's review at the UPR and the work done by Action Canada and the Canadian Alliance for Sex Work Law Reform to call for better access to abortion care, comprehensive sexuality education, and decriminalization of sex work in Canada.
Held during the 30th session of the UN Human Rights Council. The panel emphasized the importance of addressing unsafe abortion in order to eliminate preventable maternal mortality and morbidity, while identifying the human rights dimensions of unsafe abortion, and elaborating on State obligations with respect to addressing unsafe abortion.
Reproductive rights are human rights, and they include the right to safe, accessible, and legal abortions. Over 40 million abortions take place each year. In most developed countries and in many developing countries, abortion is legal on demand until the 12th or 14th week of pregnancy, and abortion is legal beyond that timeframe when there is a threat to the woman’s life or health, or fetal impairment, or when the pregnancy is a result of rape or incest.
Sexual Rights at the 40th UN Human Rights Council
Throughout 2018 the UN human rights system continued to be an important space for the development of sexual rights.
The 39th session of the UN Human Rights Council took place September 10-28, 2018.
In support of the September 28 “Global Day of Action for Access to Safe and Legal Abortion” Sexual Rights Initiative, Center for Reproductive Rights, Ipas, the Asia-Pacific Resource and Research Centre for Women, the Youth Coalition for Sexual Health and Rights, AWID and the Swedish Association for Sexuality and Education have developed a joint statement on abortion rights for delivery at the upcoming 39th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.
The 39th session of the UN Human Rights Council will take place from September 10-28, 2018. Find below information about anticipated sexual rights-related resolutions, panels and reports, UPR outcomes, and parallel events taking place during the 39th session.
Expected Resolutions Relevant to Sexual Rights
In support of the Global Day of Action for Access to Safe and Legal Abortion, the Sexual Rights Initiative is organizing an event during the 39th regular session of the Human Rights Council.
Click here to download the invitation in PDF
The event will be held on September 13, 2018 from 1 PM to 2:30 PM at the Palais des Nations room XXV in Geneva.
The Center for Reproductive Rights, the Sexual Rights Initiative, the Association for Progressive Communications, the International Service for Human Rights, the Swedish Association for Sexuality Education, the World Young Women Christian Association welcome the major gains on women’s and girls’ rights and sexual and reproductive health and rights at the 38th session of the Human Rights Council.
The 38th session of the UN Human Rights Council took place from June 18 to July 6, 2018. Below you will find information on some of the key sexual rights related resolutions, oral statements and annual discussions. All of which the Sexual Rights Initiative (SRI) was engaged with during the session.
Featured News
The 30th session of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is taking place now until 18 May, 2018 at the UN Human Rights Council, in Geneva. Fourteen countries will be reviewed during the session: Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Canada, Cabo Verde, CameroonColombia, Cuba, Djibouti, Germany, Russian Federation, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu and Uzbekistan.
The Center for Reproductive Rights (CRR), the Sexual Rights Initiative (SRI), Child Rights Connect (CRC), the International Women’s Health Coalition (IWHC), the Youth Coalition for Sexual and Reproductive Rights, Plan International, the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), the Swedish Association for Sexuality Education (RFSU) welcome the theme of the Human Rights Council resolution on the protection of the rights of the child in humanitarian situations.
The 28th session of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) was held at the UN Human Rights Council, in Geneva, from 6-17 November 2017.
HRC36: General Debate Item 8 2
The 36th session of the UN Human Rights Council is took place from 11-29 September 2017. Here are transcripts of oral statements made by the Sexual Rights Initiative.
The 36th session of the UN Human Rights Council will take place from the 11th to the 29th of September 2017. Find below information about anticipated sexual rights-related resolutions, panels and reports, UPR outcomes, and parallel events taking place during the 36th session.
The 33rd session of the UN Human Rights Council took place from the 12th to the 30th of September 2016. Here is an overview of resolutions, panel, oral statements and side events related to sexual rights that took place during the session.
HRC33 Statement: Stop Using Women’s Bodies as the Battlefield!
Joint Statement and Call for Action for the Polish Parliament to Examine the Right to Access to Safe and Legal Abortion
In recognition of the Day of Action for Access to Safe and Legal Abortion, the panel will share different country experiences of advocating for safe and legal abortion, highlight the human rights obligations of States to provide access to safe and legal abortion, and discuss opportunities to utilize HRC mechanisms to effect policy and legal changes at the national level.
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 49th session of the Conference on Population and Development (CPD) in New York, the Sexual Rights Initiative (SRI) officially launched the National Sexual Rights Law and Policy Database. Simavi spoke with Meghan Doherty and Neha Sood, Policy and Advocacy officers with SRI partner Action Canada for Sexual Health and Rights, about the importance of this database and how it could support local communities to improve their sexual rights.
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
The following is an overview from the 30th session of the UN Human Rights Council. It includes resolutions, panels and discussions, statements and parallel events related to sexual rights of which the SRI was engaged with during the session.
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:
On September 29th, during the 30th session of the Human Rights Council, we co-hosted a side event to discuss the importance of addressing unsafe abortion in order to eliminate preventable maternal mortality and morbidity.
Panel Highlights
The panel opened with a video from Ipas on the lack of access to safe and legal abortion in Rwanda.
The Sexual Rights Initiative is hosting a panel on Unsafe Abortion and Maternal Mortality and Morbidity during the 30th session of the Human Rights Council from 12:00PM to 1:00PM on 29 September 2015.
The SRI joined more than 50 NGOs in calling upon the U.N. Human Rights Committee to elaborate on the measures States must take to realize women’s right to life, including by guaranteeing access to safe and legal abortion, and other sexual and reproductive health services. The joint statement is below.
Distinguished Committee Members:
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 22nd session of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) will take place at the UN Human Rights Council, in Geneva, from 4 – 21 May 2015.
The 20th session of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) will take place at the UN Human Rights Council, in Geneva, from October 27 – November 7 2014. Fourteen countries will be reviewed during the session, including: Italy, El Salvador, Gambia, Bolivia, Fiji, San Marino, Kazakhstan, Angola, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Madagascar, Iraq, Slovenia, Egypt, and Bosnia Herzegovina.
During the 27th session of the UN Human Rights Council, the Sexual Rights Initiative (SRI) collaborated with national-level organizations and advocates to deliver oral statements regarding outcomes from the Universal Periodic Review ‘s (UPR) of Costa Rica, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Dominica, Nicaragua, Norway and Portugal.
To commemorate the 2014 Global Day of Action for the Decriminalization of Abortion, the panel will explore the linkages between abortion stigma, criminalization and restrictive laws and policies, and examine their impact on the rights of women, particularly adolescent girls.
Alongside the ongoing 26th session of the Council, the Sexual Rights Initiative, in partnership with, Ipas, Amnesty International and UNAIDS, hosted a parallel event examining the interplay of the criminalization of sexuality and reproduction with the international human rights framework.
World leaders on women’s reproductive rights draft ‘Airlie Declaration on safe legal abortion’
HRC25: SRI Oral statements
The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), at its recently concluded session, issued a statement on sexual and reproductive health and rights, which is its contribution to the [email protected] review process. The Committee reminds us that it “has observed that failure of a State party to provide services and the criminalisation of some services that only women require is a violation of women’s reproductive rights and constitutes discrimination against them.” It States that “the provision of, inter alia, safe abortion and post abortion care; maternity care; timely diagnosis and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases (including HIV), breast and reproductive cancers, and infertility; as well as access to accurate and comprehensive information about sexuality and reproduction, are all part of the right to sexual and reproductive health” and that “every State can and should do more to ensure the full respect, protection and fulfilment of sexual and reproductive rights, in line with human rights obligations.”
UPR18: sexual rights-related outcomes
Building on the Hague Civil Society Call to Action on Human Rights and ICPD Beyond 2014, the SRI’s written statement for the upcoming 47th session of the Commission on Population and Development calls on governments to:
Ensure the implementation of all human rights obligations related to the Programme of Action of the ICPD;
Promote equality by tackling the root causes of structural inequalities;
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The SRI wishes you all the very best for a restful holiday season!
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Federation for Women and Family Planning pushes back against further attempts to restrict access to abortion in Poland
Summary of SRI co-organized event on Maternal Mortality and Morbidity during the 24th session of the HRC
To commemorate the 2013 Global Day of Action for the Decriminalization of Abortion (September 28th), the Sexual Rights Initiative organized an event that took place during the 24th session of the UN Human Rights Council to discuss the realization of women’s human rights, specifically women’s right to access safe and legal abortion, including through the decriminalization of abortion. Being one of the first events on the topic at the Council, it represents a ground-breaking moment in its history. Widely attended by over 30 representatives from Member States – making up half of the audience, UN agencies, civil society, women human rights defenders and academics, they assessed the human rights implications of the criminalization of abortion and explored strategies to strengthen government accountability and responsibility in respecting, protecting and guaranteeing women’s reproductive and human rights.
During the 24th session of the UN Human Rights Council, the Sexual Rights Initiative (SRI) collaborated with national-level organizations and advocates to deliver oral statements regarding outcomes from the Universal Periodic Review ‘s (UPR) of Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Canada, Colombia, Russia and Uzbekistan.
In support of the September 28 Global Day of Action for Access to Safe and Legal Abortion, the Sexual Rights Initiative, Center for Reproductive Rights and Ipas have developed a joint statement on abortion rights for delivery at the upcoming 36th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. The session runs from Sept. 11-29, and the most suitable Council agenda item for the statement would appear to be the general debate on the implementation of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, scheduled for Monday, Sept. 25.
Save the Date! SRI Parallel event: “Decriminalization of Abortion: A human rights imperative” during 24th session of the HRC
Save the Date! Parallel event taking place alongside the 24th session of the UN Human Rights Council on the decriminalization of abortion.
SRI Statement at ECOSOC Meeting
On June 6th 2013, the Sexual Rights Initiative (SRI), in collaboration with the World YWCA, and Permanent Missions to the UN in Geneva of Finland, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand and Uruguay organized a parallel event on ‘the role of the Human Rights Council in advancing sexual and reproductive rights and health in the post-2015 development agenda’.
SRI statement on the follow up and implementation of the Vienna Programme of Action
Delivered by Fernando D’Elio, Akahata (Argentina)
Thank you Madam President
The Sexual Rights Initiative and partners co-sponsored a side event at the 20th session of the Human Rights Council focusing on criminal laws and women’s right to health. The objective of the event was to provide a forum for States and stakeholders in Geneva to discuss the key findings and recommendations of the Special Rapporteur on the Right to Health’s 2011 report to the General Assembly on the criminalization of sexual and reproductive health including abortion.