Female Sexual Autonomy and Human Rights

This article focuses on how existing human rights principles can be applied to protect and promote women's sexual autonomy. Part I discusses the extent to which women's rights have been recognized as human rights and how far current understanding of international human rights law goes toward protecting women's ability to exercise their sexual autonomy. Part II applies the human rights methodology to two case studies to analyze the promise and limitations of the present human rights framework for eradicating such violations. The discussion is informed by the ways in which cultural and social attitudes toward female sexuality create the context for such abuses to occur, and how these attitudes affect women's ability to seek redress. Part III proposes steps for strengthening international protection for women's sexual autonomy. [Descriptors: Reproductive Rights - Overview, International]