Disability

Published on March 11, 2024
While we appreciate the focus on gendered aspects of care economies, we reiterate that the rights of persons with disabilities to be re-centered in this area, in line with the UN CRPD article 23 as persons with disabilities, in all diversity, are parents, caregivers, and rights holders.
Uploaded on November 03, 2022

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.

Uploaded on November 03, 2022

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.

Uploaded on November 03, 2022

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.

Uploaded on December 16, 2021

The submission highlights the importance of an intersectional analysis that recognizes the ableist, sexist and patriarchal systems,structures and institutions that define productivity and dependency. Changes to these systems, structures and institutions will contribute to the realization of bodily autonomy, where persons with disabilities, and especially women with disabilities,have the ability to make and exercise choices not limited by oppression,discrimination, stigma, coercion, violence, lack of opportunities or possible consequences.

Uploaded on October 08, 2021

This is the moment to radically reimagine our systems and institutions so that they serve the people. The pandemic has shown that when states choose to, they can act swiftly to implement policies and spend resources that would have been unthinkable two years ago.  At the Human Rights Council, we must recognize this moment for what it is -a chance to breathe new and transformative life into the human rights system and everything that it is supposed to stand for.

Uploaded on March 22, 2021

We suggest the Committee develops an intersectional analysis that recognizes the ableist, racist, classist, sexist and patriarchal systems, structures and institutions that define “productivity” and “dependency," gateways to the world of work. The Committee must not fall into the trap of reinforcing patriarchal, racist, ableist and classist social and moral values into the concept of work by relying on the traditional views of labour, productivity and dependency.

Instead, the Committee should directly debunk them by recognizing that work is not necessary or equivalent to dignity and worth. These “values” are tied to the idea of normalcy and must be challenged, including by opening paths for dignity outside of the right to work; this is the right not to work and still have material conditions to live and enjoy life.

Uploaded on March 01, 2021

This submission first suggests that the Committee should develop an intersectional analysis that recognizes the ableist, sexist and patriarchal systems, structures and institutions that define productivity and dependency. Secondly, it highlights how the full enjoyment of sexual and reproductive rights, broadly understood, redistributes resources, legitimacy, and power, therefore conditioning access to and keeping work. In reciprocity, access to work mediates the exercise of sexual and reproductive rights. The submission concludes by suggesting recommendations for structural changes to accessing work, health, education, and social protection systems.

Uploaded on February 19, 2020

This submission reviews bioethics and how it has related to the rights of persons with disabilities. It first highlights how bioethics constitutes its own authority and experts to have a say in the lives of persons with disabilities. Secondly it provides a brief overview of a global feminist approach to bioethics and its contributions to a critique of the field. After highlighting the contributions of women with disabilities to the so-called “bioethical discussions,” the submission recommends to move away from bioethics and adopt a human rights-based analysis.

Uploaded on May 29, 2019

The present study, developed under Human Rights Council resolution 25/20, is focused on the right to live independently and be included in the community, and the enjoyment, protection and promotion of that right as a substantive means for the realization of other rights, as a condition for avoiding institutionalization and segregation in health and social settings, and as a prerequisite to provide for the full development of the capabilities of persons with disabilities and their meaningful participation in, and contribution to, society.

Uploaded on May 29, 2019

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

Uploaded on May 23, 2019

The Human Rights Council,

Guided by the principles and purposes of the Charter of the United Nations,

Reaffirming the human right of everyone to education, which is enshrined in, inter alia, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other relevant international human rights instruments, including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities,

Uploaded on March 31, 2018

In response to the Special Rapporteur’s call for input on the right to health, SRI made a submission focusing on the sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) of persons with disabilities. The submission challenges stereotypes surrounding sexuality and disability, outlines some of the common barriers to SRHR experienced by women and girls with disabilities, and advocates for an approach centered on autonomy.

Published on March 29, 2017

The 34th session of the UN Human Rights Council took place from the 27th of February to the 24th of March 2017. Here is an overview of resolutions, panel, oral statements and side events related to sexual rights that took place during the session.

Published on March 24, 2017

Joint statement by the Center for Reproductive Rights, the Sexual Rights Initiative, and Child Rights Connect. Delivered on 24 March following the Human Rights Council adoption of a resolution on the protection of the rights of the child in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Published on July 06, 2015

The HRC28 Wrap-up provides information on some of the key sexual rights related resolutions, panels and presentations, statements, and parallel events that the Sexual Rights Initiative (SRI) was engaged with during the 28th session of the UN Human Rights Council from the 2nd to the 27th of March 2015.

 

Sexual Rights-related Resolutions

Towards better investment in the rights of the child

Published on May 28, 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.

Published on March 31, 2015

During the 28th 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 Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, El Salvador and Madagascar. Responses were also prepared for Egypt and Iran but not delivered due to time limitations