The panel took place on Thursday, June 12th 2014 at the 26th session of the UN Human Rights Council. Itexamined the interplay of the criminalization of sexuality and reproduction with the international human rights framework. Topics of discussion included the ways criminalization of different aspects of sexuality relates to control over one’s choices, restriction on autonomy and disregard for consent. Other discussions included gender, cultural and religious norms and values that contribute to the criminalization of sexuality and reproduction. Panellists explored these issues through an intersectional lens to enable a discussion of effective and rightsâ€based strategies to restore the control of every person over their sexuality, body and life.
Welcome: Neha Sood, the Sexual Rights Initiative and Action Canada for Population and Development
Moderator: Anand Grover, human rights lawyer, the Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
Panelists:
Grace Wilentz, YouAct (European Network on Sexual and Reproductive Rights), will discuss laws relating to age of consent to sexual activity.
Karolina Wieckiewicz, the Sexual Rights Initiative and the Federation for Women and Family Planning, will discuss the criminalisation of abortion and contraceptive use. Access the statement of the Federation for Women and Family Planning here.
Irina Maslova, Sex Workers’ Rights Advocacy Network (SWAN) and Silver Rose, will discuss the criminalisation of sex work.
Sunita Kujur, the Sexual Rights Initiative and CREA, will discuss criminal laws relating to sexual activity and gender expression.
Patrick Eba, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), will discuss criminal laws relating to HIV nonâ€disclosure, exposure and transmission.
