Human Rights and Sexuality: First Steps Towards Articulating a Rights Framework for Claims to Sexual Rights and Freedoms

This article offers a critique of the approach in international law to issues relating to sexuality and makes the case for the recognition of a universal human right to sexuality. It is argued that such a rights approach would mean that other human rights principles such as non-discrimination would be applicable and governments would necessarily have to meet a higher burden in justifying limitations on sexuality. Various obstacles to the adoption of a sexuality rights approach are also discussed. The article concludes by presenting various models and strategies for bringing the right to sexuality to the fore in international law. [Descriptors: Reproductive Rights - Overview, International]