Sexual rights are BASIC AND UNIVERSAL HUMAN RIGHTS!

Announced to the public and press

Difficulties faced by gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) individuals and human rights violations were brought into question by means of the Pride Week (Pride Parade) events. Pride Week is celebrated worldwide every year at the end of the June, as the anniversary of the Stonewall riots, with the participation of LGBT individuals and the people who support LGBT individuals. All the activities and parades are performed to commemorate the Stonewall riots. As is known, in 1969, LGBT individuals revolted in Stonewall Inn against the violence and discrimination, and actions were taken in the streets during 4 days after they incarcerated the police within the bar. This day which is a milestone for LGBT struggle is celebrated worldwide under the names of Pride Week, Gay Pride, LGBT Pride and Pride Parades. Here, the “pride” implies the dignity, the dignity of a person without being ashamed of his own existence. Various events such as panels, films, theaters, concerts and parties are held through the LGBT Week.

As CISED, we support universal human rights in the context of all the activities that defend sexual rights and will continue to do so. As is known, the WAS (World Association of Sexual Health) General Assembly accepted and declared the universal declaration of sexual rights at the 14^th World Sexology Congress held in Hong Kong on 26 August 1999. According to this Declaration of "Sexual Rights" sexuality is an integral part of the personality of every human being. The full development of sexuality depends on the fulfillment of basic human needs, such as love, desire for contact, intimacy, emotional expression, pleasure and etc. Sexuality is constructed through the interaction between the individual and social structures. Individual, interpersonal and social well-being is essential for the full development of sexuality.

Sexual rights are the universal human rights based on fundamental rights such as freedom, human dignity and equality. Since the health is one of the fundamental human rights, sexual health should be a basic human right. To ensure the development of sexual health of the communities, all sexual rights of individuals should be recognized, encouraged, respected and defended by all communities. Sexual health is possible in environments where sexual rights are recognized, respected, and applied. Sexual freedom allows individuals to express their sexual potential. This definition refuses all kinds of sexual coercion, exploitation and abuse. Sexual autonomy includes the sexual integrity and physical security right and the power of the individuals to take autonomous decisions on their sexual life in accordance with their personal and social ethics. This right is also allows us to take decisions to control our own bodies and enjoy free from any kind of violence, torture, mutilation. Sexual privacy right includes the right to give decisions and act individually without violating the sexual rights of others. Sexual equality right includes no discrimination in terms of sex, gender, sexual orientation, age, race, social class, religion or physical or mental disabilities. Sexual pleasure right is the source of physical, psychological, mental and spiritual well-being including autoeroticism and sexual pleasure.

Emotional expression of sexuality right is a much more important concept than erotic pleasure or sexual acts. The individuals have the right to express their sexuality through communication, touching, emotional expression and love. Sexual behaviors have results and responsibilities and the meaning of the right to freely create sexual relationships is that the individuals are free to marry, to divorce, and to enter into any kind of sexual intercourse. Everyone has the right to decide whether to have children and the number and spacing of children. To exercise this right requires access to the conditions that influence and determine health and wellbeing, including sexual and reproductive health services related to pregnancy, contraception, fertility, pregnancy termination, and adoption. Everyone shall have access to scientifically accurate and understandable information related to sexuality, sexual health, and sexual rights through diverse sources. Such information should not be arbitrarily censored, withheld, or intentionally misrepresented. Everyone has the right to education and comprehensive sexuality education.  Comprehensive sexuality education must be age appropriate, scientifically accurate, culturally competent, and grounded in human rights, gender equality, and a positive approach to sexuality and pleasure.

LGBT individuals attained various rights with the development of democracy and freedom. However, in many countries, LGBT individuals are still exposed to serious social and legal pressures. Exclusion, isolation, and violence against to the LGBT individuals who are living in community norms are not acceptable behaviors. Violence, repression and discrimination for any reason are unacceptable shame of humanity. What really matters is that people should behave in a manner that protects human dignity. In this respect, the fight against violence and discrimination experienced by LGBT individuals has a special importance for the development of human rights and democracy. Therefore we should be against to violence and negative attitudes targeting LGBT individuals as well as discrimination, human rights violations, and information pollution.

In our country we see that there are mental health professionals who respect the rights of LGBT individuals but unfortunately there are also some mental health professionals who can not tolerate others’ decisions and engage in antidemocratic conversations demanding for censorship and punishment. We invite these colleagues to consider all scientific studies extending from past to present, to remember the Universal Declaration of Human Rights accepted by The United Nations Human Rights Commission at the UN General Assembly session held in Paris on 10 December 1948, and to ethically behave their counselee, who apply them because of their complaints about their sexual orientation, and not to judge them before listening and understanding.

As it is written in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers. All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood. Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in Universal Declaration of Human Rights, without distinction of any kind, such as race, color, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it is independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty. No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control. Everyone has the right to peacefully organize, associate, assemble, demonstrate, and advocate including about sexuality, sexual health, and sexual rights. However, none of the human rights can be interpreted as a right to carry out any activity or initiative aiming to destroy the state, professional organizations, other civil society organizations, communities and individuals. In addition, LGBT individuals may experience problems about general or sexual communication just like heterosexuals and they can take professional help for their problems. But no one can force them to be heterosexual or to change their orientation.

Psychological, social, legal and political discrimination suffered by LGBT individuals and others who has sexual orientation confusion is an important subject not only for mental health professionals but also for social sciences, universities and nongovernmental organizations, and it is a public health matter which is equal to the right to life. We believe that scientific and independent studies on this issue will be a guide for LGBT individuals in finding solutions to their problems and in eliminating homophobia, heterofobia and transphobia in community, as well as interdisciplinary conflicts. We would like to draw the attention of the public to all forms of discrimination and human rights violations in our country.

On behalf of the Board of Directors of Sexual Health Association Institute (CİSED)

Cem KEÇE

CİSED Chairman, and Psychotherapist