World

Right to Freedom of Sexual Orientation

by Rhonda J Mangus | April 4, 2008 at 12:53 pm

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What is the Human Right to Freedom of Sexual Orientation?

Every woman, man, youth and child has the human right to freedom of sexual orientation. This includes the fundamental human right to freedom from discrimination based on sexual orientation or any other status, and other fundamental human rights dependent upon realization of the human right to freedom from discrimination. The human rights related to non-discrimination are explicitly set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenants, the Convention on the Rights of the Child and other widely adhered to international human rights treaties and Declarations. While these documents do not contain direct references to discrimination based on sexual orientation, they do prohibit discrimination on grounds of sex. In 1993 the UN Commission on Human Rights delared that the prohibition against sex discrimination in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights included discrimination on the basis of sexual preference.

The People's Movement for Human Rights Learning is a social movement dedicated to human rights learning for social and economic transformation.

The PDHRE explores 24 issues related to social and economic justice and injustice, including the Human Right to Freedom of Sexual Orientation. This Right to Freedom of Sexual Orientation is not limited to women and men, but includes the Right to Freedom of Sexual Orientation for Children and Youth, as well.

Human Rights violations, on every level, are reported on throughout the world. Consequently, the importance of facilitating full understanding of, and respect for, individual Human Rights can not be over-stated. The recent and brutal slaying of Oxnard, California junior high student, Lawrence King, for reason of his sexual orientation/gender expression, is but one reason to facilitate Human Rights understanding and respect.

Lawrence's Human Right to the Right to Freedom of Sexual Orientation can no longer be ignored by the masses, including foremost institutions of education where children's Human Rights are often ignored with devastating consequences.

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