26th session of the UN Human Rights Council Panel discussion on preventing and eliminating child, early and forced marriage Statement by Action Canada for Population and Development (ACPD) Thank you. I deliver this statement on behalf of the Sexual Rights Initiative 1. We welcome the report of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on Preventing and eliminating child, early and forced marriage, and thank the panellists for their valuable contributions. In addition to preventing and eliminating early and forced marriages, it is equally important to protect and promote the full range of human rights of married women, young women and girls, including their sexual and reproductive rights. In this regard, it is critical that marital rape be recognised as a criminal offence by all States. Further, it is important that States review legislation, policies and programmes that violate young women and girls’ right to health by limiting their access to sexual and reproductive health services and information. This includes the imposition of restrictions on married young women and girls ’ ability to freely access accurate, evidence-based information and services, anonymously and with confidence. Many States maintain spousal consent requirements for medical treatment in general as well as for specific sexual and reproductive health services, such as abortion services, as well as restrictions on access to emergency contraception. Fear and stigma may deter married young women and girls from obtaining consent from their husbands and therefore they may forego seeking information or accessing a service. They may also seek out back-street service providers, where they may be subject to unskilled or untrained providers in unsafe or unsanitary conditions. Additionally, situations of domestic violence can prevent adolescents from seeking their spouse’s consent to access services and information. Hence, States must review third party authorisation requirements and ensure that legislation, policies and programmes enable rather than restrict the exercise of young women and girls’ sexual and reproductive rights. Thank you.
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The Sexual Rights Initiative is a coalition of organizations comprising of Action Canada for Population and Development, Akahata (Latin America), Coalition for African Lesbians, Creating Resources for Empowerment in Action (India), Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights and The Federation for Women and Family Planning (Poland).