The Coalition for Sexual and Bodily Rights in Muslim Societies
was founded in 2001, following the “Women, Sexuality and Social Change in
the Middle East and Mediterrenean Symposium” organized by WWHR-New Ways in
Istanbul, Turkey. In this groundbreaking meeting, NGO representatives,
activists and academicians from the Middle East and North Africa came
together to the first time to discuss sexuality in the region and affirmed
the need for a solidarity network of those advocating for sexual,
reproductive and bodily rights as human rights in the region.
Starting out as a network of NGO representatives, activists and
academicians in the Middle East and North Africa, the Coalition has
expanded to South and South East Asia in 2004. The The Coalition for Sexual
and Bodily Rights in Muslim Societies, a bi-regional network, now includes
38 organizational members from Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco,
Palestine, Tunisia, Turkey, Yemen and Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia,
Pakistan and the Philippines.
As a network involved in activist work on advocacy and lobbying
towards for the promotion of sexual and bodily rights in Muslim societies,
our principles are founded upon the premise that sexual, bodily and
reproductive rights are basic human rights, and all people have the right
to make free decisions on matters relating to their sexuality, body and
reproduction free from discrimination and coersion. The activities of the
Coalition includes organizing regional and international meetings,
conferences, workshops and trainings on sexuality and sexual rights;
supporting national campaigns and efforts to promote sexual rights;
advocacy and lobbying for legal reforms in the domain of sexuality;
producing and disseminating research and publications; advocacy at the
United Nations level for the advancement of sexual and reproductive rights.
The network has been founded on the fundamental principle that all
people, regardless of their gender, citizenship, class, age, religion,
marital status, ethnic identity, sexual orientation, gender expression,
mental and physical ability, have the right to bodily and sexual integrity
and autonomy, and the right to freely decide on all matters concerning
their sexuality and fertility
Core Values:
- Sexual and bodily
rights are universal human rights based on the inherent freedom,
dignity and equality of all human beings.
- Sexual and bodily
rights are central to the realization of women’s human rights and
gender equality. The advancement of these rights are crucial for
advancement of democracy.
- It is the duty and
responsibility of all governments to develop, adopt and implement laws
and other measures to eliminate all harmful traditional or customary
practices that restrict or violate women’s human rights, such as
female genital mutilation, crimes committed in the name of honor or in
the name of passion, abduction and sale of children and women, early
and forced marriages, dowry related violence and deaths, acid attacks,
restriction of the right to mobility and temporary marriages.
- It is the duty and
responsibility of all governments to develop, adopt and implement laws
and other measures to protect women and girls from all forms violence,
including sexual violence, such as rape, marital rape, sexual abuse,
sexual exploitation and trafficking in girls and women and repeal all
laws that lead to the revictimization of women and girls who have been
subjected to sexual violence.
- Women’s sexuality
and bodies belong to themselves. The principle that laws must first
and foremost protect the individual’s rights and freedoms rather than
the public order and general ethics must be reflected into all legal
change processes. All laws and policies that legitimize customary
practices which put women’s bodies and sexuality at the disposal of
men, family and society must be repealed.
- All individuals have
the equal right to enjoy a sexual life in accordance with their
values. This entails not only the right to determine one’s sexual
behavior, but also the right to sexual pleasure and desire.
- All individuals have
the right to sexually associate freely. This includes the right to
decide freely whether to be sexually active or not, make free
decisions on whether to marry or not, the right to divorce, and the
right to sexual orientation.
- All individuals,
including adolescents, have the right to equal access to highest
attainable standard of safe sexual and reproductive health care and
quality services, as well as adequate and affordable sexual and
reproductive health information and comprehensive sexuality education.
- Women and
adolescents have the right to freely decide on matters related to
their fertility and to access safe, effective and affordable methods
of regulating their reproductive life.
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