Sexual health and rights. It’s a concept that is often tossed around, but what does it mean? It means having the ability to decide on ones sexual health and to be able to live a life free from fear, harm, or discrimination. It means being able to express your sexuality and sexual identity with dignity. It means honoring privacy and sexual health. It means enjoying a safe, satisfying sex life and sexual expression free of prejudice. Simply put, it is enjoyment of personal autonomy and bodily integrity.
This month, Women Deliver unpacks this complicated yet fundamental issue. Hear from Latanya Mapp Frepp, Executive Director of Planned Parenthood Global, about strategies for including young people and men in sexual health initiatives. Learn why Canada is expanding investments in sexual health and rights – a priority laid out by Canadian Minister of International Development, Marie-Claude Bibeau. Get more information about She Decides – a Global Fundraising Initiative decided to supporting organizations and programs committed ensuring to millions of women and girls are in charge of their own bodies.
Ensuring sexual health and rights is a prerequisite for achieving gender equality for girls and women. It is time to bring sexual health and rights out of the shadows and into the forefront.
For evidence and strategies to help you advocate for girls' and women's right to live free of fear, stigma, and discrimination click the links below:
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Women Deliver President/CEO Katja Iversen conducted an interview with Latanya Mapp Frett. Ms. Frett is the current Executive Director of Planned Parenthood Global as well as Vice President of Global Programs for Planned Parenthood Federation of America.
In the piece above The Honorable Marie-Claude Bibeau (Minister of International Development and La Francophonie) explains why Canada is working to ensure that every pregnancy is wanted, every birth is safe, and every girl and woman is treated with the dignity and respect she deserves.
In the video above Lambert Grijns, the Dutch Ambassador for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights & HIV/AIDS and Director of the Social Development Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs discusses the importance of broadening the scope of sexual health and rights.
Solutions in Action: Respect, Protect, and Fulfill Sexual Health and Rights
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This report from Guttmacher Institute lays out a set of recommended indicators focused on the incorporation of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) into the SDGs.
This guide from UNFPA and Engender Health is meant to provide guidance for those developing or managing a project or programme to engage men in sexual and reproductive health and rights.
This report from IPPF describes and analyses 12 programmes from around the world that seek to alter the attitudes and behaviours of men in relation to sexuality, sexual and reproductive health, violence and relationships.
This report from the WHO demonstrates the relationship between sexual health, human rights and the law. Drawing from a review of public health evidence and extensive research into human rights law at international, regional and national levels.
