Religion, Human Rights, and Development: Focusing on Health

Click to increase image sizeClick to decrease image size

All the opinions expressed in this article belong to the authors’ alone, and do not necessarily represent positions or perspectives of any institution, Board, State, Territory or staff.

Notes

1. As referenced by the WHO (but also noted as not representing any of their official positions):

sexual rights embrace human rights that are already recognized in national laws, international human rights documents and other consensus statements. They include the right of all persons, free of coercion, discrimination and violence, to: the highest attainable standard of sexual health, including access to sexual and reproductive health care services; seek, receive and impart information related to sexuality; sexuality education; respect for bodily integrity; choose their partner; decide to be sexually active or not; consensual sexual relations; consensual marriage; decide whether or not, and when, to have children; and pursue a satisfying, safe and pleasurable sexual life. (2016)

2. This paper reflects the perspective of two practitioners operating at an international policy level. See two other papers in this edition which address issues of gender and faith from different perspectives, and which adds to the debate outlined here (Paterson and Le Roux et al.).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Azza Karam

Azza Karam is a Senior Policy Advisor at the United Nations Population Fund and Convenor of the United Nations Task Force on Religion and Development.

Katherine Marshall

Katherine Marshall is Executive Director of the World Faiths Development Dialogue and Senior Fellow at Georgetown University’s Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs; she has four decades of experience in international development, particularly addressing issues facing the world’s poorest countries.