Introduction to Sexual Rights including extended talk about the revised Declaration of Sexual Rights (2014) by World Association for Sexual Health. Presented in the 45th Anniversary Seminar of Sexpo Foundation, Finland in November 2014.

1. Sexual Rights
An Introduction
Tommi Paalanen
Sexpo Foundation
World Association for
Sexual Health
Seksuaalisuuden ja ihmissuhteiden asiantuntija - jo vuodesta 1969

2. Development issues and human rights in 90’s
 Women’s rights in developing countries
 Advocacy against sexual violence
 Reproductive health and rights
Milestones
 Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action (1993)
 International Conference on Population and Development (1994)
 Beijing Declaration (1995), IPPF Charter (1995)
Tommi Paalanen 20.11.2014
Before Sexual Rights

3. Development of the Concept
World Association for Sexual Health (WAS)
 WAS Declaration of Sexual Rights (1999)
 WAS Declaration of Sexual Rights (2014)
www.worldsexology.org
Other sexual rights documents
 WHO Working Definition of Sexual
Health and Rights (2002; revised in 2006)
 The Yogyakarta Principles (2006)
 IPPF Declaration of Sexual Rights (2008)
Pic: World Association for Sexual Health
Tommi Paalanen 20.11.2014

4. Sexual Rights = Human Rights
All sexual rights are derived from human rights
 UDHR  women’s rights, children’s rights
 Two approached: development and individual rights
 Based on bioethics and sexual ethics
Tommi Paalanen 20.11.2014
Pic: Marco Fieber (CC)

5. WAS Declaration of Sexual Rights (2014)
Basic principles
 Freedom, dignity, equality, non-discrimination
 Broad understanding of sexuality
 Sexuality as a source of pleasure and wellbeing
Tommi Paalanen 20.11.2014
Duty to protect and
implement human rights
 Attaining sexual health
 Protecting diversity of sexuality,
gender and relationships
 Banning violence, harassment
and stigmatisation
Pic: Moscow Pride / Reuters

6. WAS Declaration of Sexual Rights (2014)
Broad list of rights
 Equality and non-discrimination (1)
 Basic rights:
freedom, autonomy, bodily integrity (2-6)
 Requirements for sexual wellbeing:
access to information, sexual health services,
sex education (7-10)
 Reproduction and relationships (11-12)
 Political rights:
freedom of expression, freedom of assembly,
seeking justice (13-16)
Rights are hierarchical and overlapping
Pic: Plan Norway
Tommi Paalanen 20.11.2014

7. WAS Declaration of Sexual Rights (2014)
1. The right to equality and non-discrimination.
2. The right to life, liberty, and security of the
person.
3. The right to autonomy and bodily integrity
4. The right to be free from torture and cruel,
inhuman, or degrading treatment or
punishment.
5. The right to be free from all forms of
violence and coercion.
6. The right to privacy.
7. The right to the highest attainable
standard of health, including sexual
health; with the possibility of pleasurable,
satisfying, and safe sexual experiences.
8. The right to enjoy the benefits of scientific
progress and its application
9. The right to information.
10. The right to education and the right to
comprehensive sexuality education.
11. The right to enter, form, and dissolve
marriage and other similar types of
relationships based on equality and full
and free consent.
12. The right to decide whether to have
children, the number and spacing of
children, and to have the information
and the means to do so.
13. The right to the freedom of thought,
opinion, and expression.
14. The right to freedom of association and
peaceful assembly.
15. The right to participation in public and
Tommi Paalanen 20.11.2014
political life.
16. The right to access to justice, remedies,
and redress.

8. New Importance of Political Rights
Protection of basic political rights in conservative, religious or
hostile society or community
 Freedom of thought and speech
 Political activity and participation
 Seeking justice and remedies
Tommi Paalanen 20.11.2014
The threat of neo-conservatism
 Traditional values and
religious/cultural rights
 Obstacles in ICPD Post 2015
Agenda
 Invisibility of sexual rights
Pic: Marco Fieber (CC)

9. Tommi Paalanen 20.11.2014
Questions?
Pic: Zack Lee (CC)

10. Thank you! tommi.paalanen@sexpo.fi
Pic:
Jim Forest (CC)
Tommi Paalanen 20.11.2014