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Cultural, religious norms should not hinder right to sexual health: UN expert
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Standing up for their rights: Activists call for the state to increase protection of women's rights at a rally to celebrate International Women's Day in Yogyakarta on March 8. (Antara/Hendra Nurdiyansyah)
T
he interpretation of cultural and religious norms must not lead to harmful practices and the denial of people's right to access sexual and reproductive health care services, a UN expert has said.
"I was discouraged to hear that the planning and delivery of comprehensive sexuality education and services is being influenced by certain religious groups who continue to oppose policies, instruments and mechanisms for the promotion and protection of sexual and reproductive health rights arguing that it promotes sexual promiscuity or homosexual propaganda," United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur Dainius Puras on right to health said on Monday.
The expert highlighted legal and practical barriers for the realization of sexual and reproductive health rights, which he says expose women and other key populations to various forms of violence and discrimination.
Puras was in Indonesia from March 22 until April 3 and was the first UN Special Rapporteur on right to health to visit the country. He will convey a comprehensive report and recommendations to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland in June 2018.
(Read also: COMMENTARY: Expanding Indonesian women's access to contraceptives)
According to the Foreign Ministry, the UN Special Rapporteur on right to health submitted a request for a country visit in 2011, coinciding with Indonesia's election into its membership to the council for the current term of 2014-2017.
"I told the Special Rapporteur it would be very good for him to have an understanding of the challenges [that Indonesia faces] — whether it is rooted in the scale and reach of the services or if it is based in religion or tradition," Foreign Affairs Minister Retno LP Marsudi said. (ebf)
