Statement

Uploaded on October 08, 2021

Digital inequalities were already high among girls, women and other marginalised groups before COVID-19 but as the pandemic led to an increased digitalisation of life, these disparities have increased dramatically. COVID-19 lockdowns have meant that girls are unable to go online at internet cafes, public Wi-Fi spots, schools or friends’ houses. In homes, access to technology is often shared with and monitored by family members, further limiting girls access to and use of technology.  

With restricted or no access to the internet, girls are at risk of missing out on online education following school closures, suffer increased social exclusion, and they may not have access to reliable and relevant information about the pandemic and about sexual and reproductive health. The lack of digital access also had serious economic and health implications with the impossibility of working remotely and the maintained exposure to COVID-19.

Uploaded on October 08, 2021

It is true that in all countries there is economic and social inequality, which has a greater impact on the rights of women and girls, black and indigenous people, people with disabilities, migrants, among others.

There is no doubt that this scenario is also a consequence of inequality between countries, mainly between the Global North and South. This inequality should not be reduced only to the distribution of vaccines or foreign debt. These are manifestations of a long history of colonialism and oppression in different forms that is more evident today than ever.

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 October 08, 2021

Transitional justice mechanisms must respond to historic causes of violence and conflict by addressing structural oppressions that affect people based on their race, class, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, amongst others. Redress comes only when acknowledging how intersectional oppression continues to operate through associated stereotypes, stigma and discrimination, including those related to race, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression.  Intersectionality is crucial to ensure a truth and reconciliation process.

Uploaded on October 08, 2021

At some point there was hope that the Council would be a place where states would answer for their actions and where people could seek remedy for human rights violations - but that hope has faded over time. During this pandemic, the UN’s international cooperation mandate has given way to States’ and corporate interests. Barriers to entering multilateral spaces including denial of visas, ECOSOC status requirements, unsustainable cost of travel, lack of translation, lack of access for people with disabilities, technology access and safety issues, and so-called efficiency measures that restrict civil society participation, all take away the nuance and expertise that civil society brings in pursuit of social justice and equality. All of this is symbolized by the empty chairs throughout the UN.

Uploaded on October 08, 2021

During this pandemic, we have seen that the UN can change and create processes for better participation of all, including civil society. We have seen modalities evolve to allow for video statements and other remote modalities that had long been demanded by activists but were treated as impossible -- that is until States needed them too. But we have also seen the instrumentalization of the pandemic to restrict civil society space nationally and internationally, the UN’s budget crisis impact on its ability to fulfill its mandate, including with regards to civil society participation, delayed reports and other outcomes, and the drive for expediency leading to the renewal of ‘efficiency’ measures that obstruct rather than advance broad participation.

Uploaded on October 08, 2021

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.

Uploaded on October 08, 2021

Although laws around gender equality and women’s rights in Somalia have advanced in the past years, there are important gaps that need addressing to effectively guarantee and protect women’s rights. If the recommendations are to have a positive impact on the lives of women and girls in Somalia, the government will need to take urgent and decisive action.

Uploaded on October 08, 2021

Sex work is deeply intertwined with the public and policy debate on immigration in Denmark. Many street-based sex workers in Copenhagen and other big cities are migrants and are subjected to intersectional discrimination, including xenophobic and racist violence. The anti-migrant, xenophobic and racist sentiment is also frequently expressed by political leaders and senior ranking government officials. Government funding continues to be drastically cut from many sex workers’ organizations and organizations supporting migrants. Absurd and inaccurate reasoning is often provided for these funding cuts, such as conflating sex work with “human trafficking and illegal migrant work.”  

Uploaded on October 08, 2021

Patriarchy is pervasive and entrenched in Mozambican society. Women face restrictions and discrimination throughout their lifetime and in every sphere of life. The feminization of poverty and the greater incidence of HIV/AIDS without proper health care, prevent women from enjoying their rights. While important strides have been made by Mozambique as reported on during the UPR, much more still needs to be done.

Uploaded on July 16, 2021

A joint statement by CHOICE for Youth and Sexuality, the Swedish Association for Sexuality Education, the Asian-Pacific Resource and Research Centre for Women, the International Planned Parenthood Federation, Plan International, AWID, and SRI during the dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the Right to Education on the 47th session of the Human Rights Council.

Uploaded on April 01, 2021

UPR outcome of Malawi: joint statement with Community Health Rights Advocacy, Female Sex Worker Association and African Sex Worker Alliance.

Uploaded on April 01, 2021

Joint statement (also available in French) during the General Debate on Item 3 from SRI partner Action Canada and 19 other organizations from the Global North denouncing their governments’ vaccine nationalism, hoarding of COVID-19 vaccines and blocking the proposal of a TRIPS waiver at the WTO.

Uploaded on April 01, 2021

Joint statement (available in English, Spanish, French and Arabic) by IWRAW Asia Pacific, the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies, the Sexual Rights Initiative and endorsed by a total of 71 organizations delivered during the General Debate on Item 3 on the human rights obligation to ensure equitable access to the COVID-19 vaccine, particularly to highlight civil society perspectives from the Global South on this topic.

Uploaded on April 01, 2021

Statement during the General Debate on Item 8 denouncing the bargaining of human rights through vaccine nationalism and vaccine ‘diplomacy.’

Uploaded on April 01, 2021

Statement during the General Debate on Item 3 from SRI partner the Federation for Women and Family Planning on behalf of the Great Coalition for Equality and Choice denouncing the increasing restrictions to the bodily autonomy of  women and girls in Poland.

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 October 13, 2020

Annual Discussion on integration of a gender perspective
Joint CSO statement urging member states to take an intersectional approach when addressing discrimination against and SRHR of young people and adolescents

Uploaded on October 08, 2020

This statement was delivered on 28 September during the annual discussion on the integration of a gender perspective throughout the work of the Human Rights Council and that of its mechanisms. This year's discussion was entitled "Gender and diversity: strengthening the intersectional perspective in the work of the Human Rights Council."

Uploaded on July 27, 2020

Joint Statement by Sexual Rights Initiative, Center for Reproductive Rights, Choice for Youth and Sexuality, Association of Women’s Rights in Development and Association for Progressive Communications, welcoming the gains in advancing women’s and girl’s human rights at the 44th Session of the Human Rights Council

Uploaded on June 22, 2020

Ms. President:
American policing has never been a neutral institution. The first U.S. city police department was a slave patrol, and modern police forces have directed oppression and violence at Black people to enforce Jim Crow, wage the War on Drugs, and crack down on protests.

Uploaded on June 19, 2020

Thank you President,
Action Canada makes this statement on behalf of the Sexual Rights Initiative, the Center for Reproductive Rights, RFSU (Swedish Association for Sexuality Education), Rutgers, CHOICE for Youth and Sexuality, the Association for Progressive Communications, Plan International, the International Planned Parenthood Federation, the Association for Women’s Rights in Development, MenEngage Alliance, the International Service for Human Rights and the Asian-Pacific Resource and Research Centre for Women (ARROW).

Uploaded on June 16, 2020

Madame President,
The Vienna Declaration recognizes the important role of non-governmental organizations in the promotion of all human rights activities at national, regional and international levels, and emphasizes the importance of continued dialogue and cooperation between Governments and non-governmental organizations.

Uploaded on March 05, 2020

3 March 2020

Thank you, Madam President. I make this statement also on behalf of the Coalition of African Lesbians and the Sexual Rights Initiative.

We welcome the Special Rapporteur's report’s emphasis on the interconnectedness and indivisibility not only of human rights but of the structures and institutions that threaten, ignore and infringe on these rights and ultimately the right to food.  

Uploaded on March 02, 2020

March 2, 2020 

Statement by the Coalition of African Lesbians

Thank you, Madam. President. I make this statement on behalf of the Coalition of African Lesbians and the Sexual Rights Initiative.

We welcome the Independent Expert’s report and its links between public and private foreign debt, corporate debt and the effects of the commodification and financialization of essential services on the realization of economic, social and cultural rights and on increasing inequality worldwide.

Uploaded on September 27, 2019

Consejo de Derechos Humanos – Sesión 42

Item 6: Examen Periódico Universal – Nicaragua

Declaración de Action Canada for Population and Development

Gracias Señor presidente,

Action Canada realiza esta declaración en nombre de Agrupación de Mujeres Trans y Culturales (AMTC) y la Iniciativa por los Derechos Sexuales.

Uploaded on September 27, 2019

Consejo de Derechos Humanos – Sesión 42 

Item 6: Examen Periódico Universal – Costa Rica

Declaración de Action Canada for Population and Development

Gracias Señor presidente,

Action Canada realiza esta declaración en nombre de un grupo de organizaciones de Costa Rica[1] y la Iniciativa por los Derechos Sexuales.

Uploaded on September 27, 2019

Thank you, Mr. President. Action Canada makes this statement on behalf of Associação para o Planeamento da Família and the Sexual Rights Initiative.

Uploaded on September 27, 2019

Merci Monsieur le Président, Action Canada fait cette déclaration au nom de Si Jeunesse Savait (SJS), la Coalition Africaine des Lesbiennes (CAL) et l’Initiative pour les droits sexuels (SRI).

Uploaded on September 27, 2019

 

Thank you, Mr. President. Action Canada makes this statement on behalf of Albania Centre for Population and Development and the Sexual Rights Initiative.

Despite the commitments made by Albania during its second review, and the positive developments since, specific obstacles to the realization of the right to health and to sexual and reproductive health services by vulnerable groups persist throughout Albania.

Uploaded on September 27, 2019

42nd Session of Human Rights Council

Interactive Dialogue with the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent

Statement by Action Canada for Population and Development

19 September, 2019

Thank you Mr President, Action Canada makes this statement on behalf of the Sexual Rights Initiative and the Coalition of African Lesbians.

Uploaded on September 27, 2019

ITEM 3: Clustered ID with Special Rapporteur on the right to development

Statement by Action Canada for Population and Development

11 September 2019

Thank you President, Action Canada makes this statement on behalf of the Sexual Rights Initiative and the Coalition of African Lesbians.

Uploaded on September 27, 2019

Statement by the Federation of Women and Family Planning

9 September 2019

Thank you, Mr. President. The Federation makes this statement on behalf of the Sexual Rights Initiative.

We welcome the report of the Special Rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation in spheres of life beyond the household with an emphasis on public spaces.

Uploaded on September 27, 2019

Thank you, President. I make this statement on behalf of the Sexual Rights Initiative.

We welcome the report of the Special Rapporteur on Contemporary Forms of Slavery. We strongly urge the Council to observe and analyse the linkages between labour and migration including informal labour. It is of particular importance to end impunity and build accountability for both state and the private sector on their labour practices, but this is not enough.

Uploaded on June 20, 2019

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.

Uploaded on June 20, 2019

Mr. President, Action Canada for Sexual Health and Rights and the Canadian Alliance for Sex Work Law Reform makes this statement in collaboration with the Sexual Rights Initiative.

We welcome Canada’s acceptance of the recommendation to ensure equal access to abortion and comprehensive sexuality education across all provinces and territories.

Uploaded on June 20, 2019

United Nations Human Rights Council 39th Session

NGO Oral Statement

Speaker Name: Samreen Shahbaz

Thank you Mr. President,

The Asian Pacific Resource and Research Centre for Women (ARROW) and Action Canada for Population and Development make this statement in collaboration with Right Here Right Now Bangladesh and Sexual Rights Initiative.

Uploaded on June 20, 2019

Human Rights Council - 39th session

Item 4: UPR Outcomes Cameroon Action Canada for Population and Development

Speaker: Pooja Badarinath

Thank you Mr. President,

Action Canada makes this statement on behalf of the Sexual Rights Initiative, the African Sex Workers Alliance (ASWA) and the Coalition of African Lesbians (CAL).

Uploaded on June 20, 2019

Thank you Mr. President,

Action Canada makes this statement also on behalf of the Sexual Rights Initiative and AWID.

We welcome the panel’s focus on integrating a gender perspective into the Council’s human rights investigations. We particularly appreciate the panel’s recognition that there has been insufficient attention to pre-existing gender-based rights violations that are exacerbated by conflict settings, as well as the need to ground understandings of gender-based violence in the lived realities of the people most affected.

Uploaded on June 20, 2019

Speaker Name: Saraban Tahur Zaman

Mr. President,

The Asian Pacific Resource and Research Centre for Women (ARROW) and Action Canada for Population and Development make this statement in collaboration with Sexual Rights Initiative.

Uploaded on June 20, 2019

39th session of the Human Rights Council

Item 3 & 5 - Clustered interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples and the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

September 19, 2018

Statement by Action Canada for Population and Development joined by Association for Women’s Rights in Development

Uploaded on May 07, 2019

We, the members of civil society and individuals present at the International Conference on Human Rights and ICPD Beyond 2014 (The Hague, 7-10 July, 2013), representing diverse constituencies from around the globe, welcome the constructive spirit and promising tone of the International Conference. In that same spirit we repeat our call upon governments and agencies to commit to the full realization of the sexual and reproductive rights of all people.

Uploaded on May 07, 2019

A comprehensive resolution on preventable maternal mortality and morbidity and human rights in humanitarian settings (A/HRC/RES/39/13), led by New Zealand, Colombia, Burkina Faso and Estonia, was adopted by consensus on Thursday September 27, 2018. This initiative is part of a long-term push by States, civil society organizations (CSOs) and U.N. agencies to address the human rights violations contributing to preventable maternal mortality and morbidity.

Uploaded on May 07, 2019

A human rights-based approach was promoted at both the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) and the 1995 Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing. Through the ICPD’s Programme of Action 179 governments committed to ensuring the realization of reproductive rights for all, including women and adolescents and to providing a comprehensive range of sexual and reproductive health information and services.