Sexuality, Health and Human Rights (Sexuality, Culture and Health)

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Sexual health

But the full realization of sexual citizenship depends on more than state-protected rights. The idea of sexual pleasure, its definitions, its language, and its expression all typically come from the grassroots—from society at its most basic, local level—rather than from government or scientific bodies. Social, cultural, religious, biomedical, scientific, and other nonstate actors are primarily responsible for respecting or not the right to sexual pleasure, by abiding or not by fundamental principles of equality, freedom, and human dignity.

Although it is clear that we are still far from fully realizing the potential of sexual rights in any society, it is equally evident that the road to sexual health is underpinned by the struggle for sexual rights.

Without being firmly rooted in a conception of and commitment to sexual rights, sexual health promotion can never be effective. The current wave of public health research and intervention on sexuality and health marks an important step in this direction. Three performers dressed with Colombian flag colors dance in Bogota, Colombia, as part of a city project to promote human rights and sexual diversity.

Photograph by William Fernando Martinez. Printed with permission of AP Photo. National Center for Biotechnology Information , U.

Am J Public Health. Find articles by Richard G. Requests for reprints should be sent to Richard G. Open in a separate window.

Parker R, Aggleton P, eds. Culture, Society and Sexuality.

Framing the Sexual Subject: The Politics of Gender, Sexuality and Power. University of California Press; Gender and reproductive health: Accessed February 25, Garcia J, Parker R. Validity of data collection, given researcher bias and difficulties in discussing such a private issue, also remains a problem in some settings that must be overcome if a greater understanding of sexuality in various settings is to be achieved. Investigating sexuality in this way entails going beyond reproductive health by looking at sexual health holistically and comprehensively.

Sexual health represents a new thematic area of work for the Department of Reproductive Health and Research. These working definitions were elaborated as a result of a WHO-convened international technical consultation on sexual health in January , and subsequently revised by a group of experts from different parts of the world.

Sexuality, Health, and Human Rights

They are presented here as a contribution to on-going discussions about sexual health, but do not represent an official WHO position, and should not be used or quoted as WHO definitions. Sex refers to the biological characteristics that define humans as female or male. While these sets of biological characteristics are not mutually exclusive, as there are individuals who possess both, they tend to differentiate humans as males and females.

Sexuality is a central aspect of being human throughout life and encompasses sex, gender identities and roles, sexual orientation, eroticism, pleasure, intimacy and reproduction. Sexuality is experienced and expressed in thoughts, fantasies, desires, beliefs, attitudes, values, behaviours, practices, roles and relationships.

While sexuality can include all of these dimensions, not all of them are always experienced or expressed. Sexuality is influenced by the interaction of biological, psychological, social, economic, political, cultural, ethical, legal, historical, religious and spiritual factors.

SEXUALITY AND SOCIAL MOVEMENTS

Sexual health is a state of physical, emotional, mental and social well-being in relation to sexuality; it is not merely the absence of disease, dysfunction or infirmity. Sexual health requires a positive and respectful approach to sexuality and sexual relationships, as well as the possibility of having pleasurable and safe sexual experiences, free of coercion, discrimination and violence. For sexual health to be attained and maintained, the sexual rights of all persons must be respected, protected and fulfilled. Sexual rights embrace human rights that are already recognized in national laws, international human rights documents and other consensus statements.

They include the right of all persons, free of coercion, discrimination and violence, to: The responsible exercise of human rights requires that all persons respect the rights of others.

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