Advancing sexual health through human rights: The role of the law

Since the International Conference on Population and Development, definitions of sexuality and sexual health have been greatly elaborated alongside widely accepted recognition that sexual health requires respect, protection and fulfilment of human rights. Considerable progress has also been made in...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Global public health 2015-02, Vol.10 (2), p.252-267
Main Authors: Kismödi, Eszter, Cottingham, Jane, Gruskin, Sofia, Miller, Alice M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Accountability
Criminal Law
Discrimination, Psychological
Health Services Accessibility - legislation & jurisprudence
Human rights
Human Rights - legislation & jurisprudence
Humans
International conferences
Law
non-discrimination
Policy Making
Population
Public health
Reproductive health
Reproductive Health - legislation & jurisprudence
Sexual health
Sexuality
Social exclusion
Social Responsibility
Theme: Sexual Health, Human Rights and the Law
Violence
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Summary:Since the International Conference on Population and Development, definitions of sexuality and sexual health have been greatly elaborated alongside widely accepted recognition that sexual health requires respect, protection and fulfilment of human rights. Considerable progress has also been made in enacting or changing laws that affect sexuality and sexual health, in line with human rights standards. These measures include legal guarantees against non-discrimination and violence, decriminalisation of consensual sexual conduct and guaranteeing availability, accessibility, acceptability and quality of sexual health information and services to all. Such legal actions have had positive effects on health and specifically on sexual health, particularly for marginalised populations. Yet in all regions of the world, laws still exist which jeopardise health, including sexual health, and violate human rights. In order to ensure accountability for the rights and health of their populations, states have an obligation to bring their laws into line with international, regional and national human rights standards. These rights-based legal guarantees, while insufficient alone, are essential for effective systems of accountability, achieving positive sexual health outcomes and the respect and protection of human rights.
ISSN:1744-1692
1744-1706
DOI:10.1080/17441692.2014.986175