As 2017 begins, SPW highlights the main events and trends as well as tensions and challenges traversing sexual politics worldwide.
January
In January, the Zika virus epidemics stormed the headlines, as Brazilian babies affected by Zika congenital syndrome prompted a global alarm. Even though Zika had been previously detected in other countries, the Brazilian epidemic was the first in which a correlation was established between the mosquito transmitted infection and birth defects. Sonia Corrêa analyzed the impact of the Zika scare in relation to abortion rights in Brazil and SPW compiled articles and analyses on the matter.
In Chile, the Ministry of Health issued unprecedented instructions to the national health system that aim at eliminating “normalizing” medical interventions of intersex infants and children bodies.
February
In Haiti, a Penal Code Reform draft text was approved by a committee of judicial experts, that included a clause making abortion legal. No additional information was reported afterwards, which is not surprising given the challenges faced by Haiti as, in addition to a chronic political crisis, the country was ravaged by Hurricane Mathews in October.
In Portugal, as left wing parties (Socialists, Communists and the Bloco de Esquerda) regained a parliamentarian majority, the political National Assembly overtuned a veto adoption by same-sex couples and restrictions on access to abortion that had been adopted by the previous conservative government.
In Brazil, the Zika crisis continued to spark hot debates in regard to reproductive health and rights. At the global level, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights’ issued a sharp and clear declaration on abortion rights in the context of the Zika crisis and the International Campaign for Women’s Rights to Safe Abortion circulated a powerful statement.
Farewell
Regional sexual rights movements and researchers mourned the departure of the Argentinean trans rights leader Lohana Berkins. Worldwide recognized as a champion of trans rights, Lohana was an admirable person whose life was imprinted by great energy, large solidarity and lots of humor. SPW shared various notes and tributes to honor her life and struggle (here, here and here).
Also in February North American sociologist John Gagnon has passed away. For many decades his research and conceptualization had a groundbreaking impact. With Richard Parker, SPW co-chair, he co –authored the book Reconceiving Sexuality. His work was influential far beyond the US boundaries, including in Brazil, where his last book Interpretation of Desire was translated into Portuguese by the Latin American Center on Sexuality and Human Rights (CLAM).
March
In March, SPW re-launched its Spanish website, featuring an insightful analysis by Alejandra Sardá-Chandiramani on Argentinean sexual politics after Mauricio Macri assumption to power in late 2015.
In Egypt, an unprecedented crackdown took place as the authorities banned human rights workers from travelling and attempted to freeze their personal funds and family assets.
From Brazil, as the zika health crisis continued to unfold, Sonia Corrêa anlyzed how the epidemics interwove with accelerated political regressions then underway.
In Chile, the Lower House of Congress passed a bill lifting the almost 30-year total ban on abortion in the cases of rape, when there is health risk for the mother or when the fetus is not viable. The bill is still pending of a final voting by the Senate.
In South Korea, the Constitutional Court rejected a petition to strike down a law that criminalizes both sex worker and customer.
In France, the Parliament approved after two years of discussion a law that punishes clients of commercial sex. Check the note issued by the International Committee on the Rights of Sex Workers in Europe (ICRSE) and the comments by The Guardian.
Farewell
In March, Latin American feminism lost Dominican activist Magaly Pineda. SPW partner Magaly Pazello wrote a moving tribute (in Spanish) to Pineda, stressing her intellectual and political legacy.
April
In Bangladesh a series of deadly attacks killed human rights and secular activists. SPW shared the analysis written by an anonymous activist alerting to the dangers implied in the global outcry around the attack, as it could trigger a new wave of Western discourses and interventions against “Islamic fundamentalism” that could have negative impacts at country’s level.
The Brazilian political crisis escalated as the House of Representatives authorized the impeachment of Dilma Rousseff to be initiated. Sonia Corrêa reported on political scenario and examined its risky implications for women’s reproductive rights and health.
May
The Brazilian conservative restoration reached a new stage as the Senate confirmed the opening of the impeachment process. Dilma Rousseff was temporarily ousted from the presidency and Michel Temer assumed the post as interim. SPW offered a new update on the crisis and its implication for sexual politics.
At the UN Human Rights Council the LAC Group 5 – formed by Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Uruguay – announced the decision to submit a resolution proposing the creation of a special mechanism to address violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI-OSIG). Critiques have been raised by the Coalition of African Lesbians, Akahatá, and the Sexual Rights Initiative.
In contrast, worrying news came from Washington as the financial crisis of the Interamerican Human Rights System became public. The Inter-American Human Rights Commission (IACHR) announced the loss of 40% of its staff and suspended country visits and sessions scheduled for the period July – October. The IACHR has, in recent years, performed remarkable work in relation to gender equality, sexual orientation & gender identity and abortion rights.
Amnesty International publicly released its final policy on the protection of sex workers rights, condemning violations to which they are subject and recommending the decriminalization of consensual sex work.
June
The most striking fact of June 2016 was the horrifying mass murder at the LGBT nightclub Pulse, in Orlando, Florida (US). SPW compiled notes of solidarity and a series of articles analyzing this this tragic episode.
At the Un Human Rights Council, the resolution proposed in May by the LAC 5 countries calling for the creation of a Special Mandate on Human Rights and Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity was adopted at the 32 Session of the UN Human Rights Council. This decision was both commemorated and criticized by LGBT right networks, human rights bodies and civil society voices. SPW covered the repercussion.
Another relevant event of the month was the approval of BREXIT in the United Kingdom referendum. The only analysis on the gender and sexuality implications of the future exiting of the UK from the European Union was a note issued by Roumanian sex workers living in London.
July
In July, SPW organized a seminar in Umhlanga, in Durban, South Africa. Thirty four researchers and activists from the Africa, Asia, the Americas and Europe discussed key trends in sexual politics at regional and country levels as well as in specific domains such as queer theorizing, sexual rights, abortion, sex work and HIV&Aids. Check the photos and the post-meeting comments written by SPW’s partner Mark Gevisser.
At the International Aids Conference (IAC), ABIA – the Brazilian Interdisciplinary Association for AIDS where SPW is hosted — launched the report “Myth vs. Reality: evaluating the Brazilian response to HIV in 2016”. The publication examines the setbacks of Brazilian policy response to HIV&AIDS.
In Mexico, the National government announced groundbreaking policy measures to protect LGBT rights. In July, SPW published an interview with Gloria Careaga that examines context and challenges surrounding this initiative.
In Iran, health officials facing the challenge of soaring rates of HIV transmission have established clinics to provide STD test and treatment to prostitutes, a policy measure that openly contradicts Sharia law stringent condemnation of commercial sex.
August
In August, as Brazil headed towards the final stage of Dilma Rousseff’s impeachment, the country and the world were distracted by the Rio Olympic Games. Despite this sharp paradox, the Games were a privileged stage for critically examining gender and sexuality performances in sports. Several SPW partners responded to our invitation to share their views on this peculiar scene. Fernando Seffner wrote the article Rio 2016: the “Sexual Games”? that glances over sexuality at large. Laura Molinari Alonso and Jimena de Garay Hernández, the UFRJ Prostitution Policy Watch’s research team and Leonardo Peçanha looked at female sexuality, the sex work landscape and trans presence/absence in the Games, respectively.
Also in Brazil, a lawsuit was presented to the Supreme Court by the National Association of Public Defenders calling for the promotion and protection of women’s and children’s rights in the context of Zika virus epidemic and the petition includes the right to abortion for women undergoing mental health suffering.
In Europe, the hot topic of the month was the ban of burkinis by few municipalities in Southern France. Before and after having been suspended by the Conseil d’Etat, these local ordinances triggered an intense trail of articles, posts and memes criticizing the top down method of the municipalities, mapping the Islamophobic trait of the policies and broaden feminist analyses in regard to state control of women’s bodies. SPW has compiled few of these insightful pieces.
September
The Global Day of Action for Access to Safe and Legal abortion was the main event of the month, as events and mobilizations were held in several countries to mark the day. Particularly striking was the massive women strik in Poland to protest against a new bill aimed at completely banning abortion. Its immediate effect was the rejection of the law by the Parliament. Another key initiative marking the date was the Open Letter issued by International Campaign for Women’s Rights to Safe Abortion to the UN General Secretary calling for September 28th to be defined as International Safe Abortion Day.
At the Human Rights Council professor Vitit Muntarbhorn, who was the co-chair of the elaboration of the Yogyakarta Principles, was nominated as the new Independent Expert on Human Rights in relation to Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity.
The AWID International Forum took place in Costa do Sauípe (Brazil). During three days a vast and rich agenda of debates has evolved under the umbrella theme “Feminist Futures: Building Collective Power for Rights and Justice”. SPW’a co-chair, Sonia Corrêa facilitated the first plenary and participated in key sessions on abortion and criminalization of sexuality. The SPW workshop on Emerging Powers, Sexuality and Human Rights was the stage of a livable conversation on the current geopolitical scenario and its implication for gender and sexuality. Mariana Rodrigues Meriqui reported on the session.
Farewell
SPW deeply lamented the early departure of the Indian trans activist Agniva Lahiri, who participated in the SPW Rio Training in 2013 and with whom many of us have had previous encounters in key international debates. We offered a tribute to Agniva’s life and work by sharing a collection of articles and a video by the young Chinese Feminist Ting Ting who met Agniva in the Rio training and later visited her in India, while she documented the countries’ queer politics.
October
In Colombia, the NO prevailed in the referendum about the peace agreement signed between the state and FARC. As insightfully examined by Franklin Gil Hernandez and Mara Viveros articles specially written for SPW this result was not unconnected with sexual politics.
In India the 2016 BRICS Summit was held in Goa. SPW’s partner Laura Waisbich article examines the tensions between states, scholars and civil society actors and offers a new assessment on how gender, sexuality and civil society politics is at play in this policy space.
October marks a series trans and intersex rights commemorative days. Check the SPW compilation on these events.
November
November began with the ‘unexpected’ election of Donald Trump for the presidency of the United States. As the reactions flooded through the world media, SPW has delivered a preliminary view on what this may imply for sexual politics in the US and beyond and compiled a series of articles written by a wide range of observers that commented this striking outcome, in particular analyses developed by feminists and queer writers and voices from the South.
At the United Nations, the mandate on independent expert to address human rights violations in relation to sexual orientation and gender identity, established in June (here and here) albeit contested by the African Group, was safeguarded by the General Assembly.
In Brazil, despite the highly regressive political environment, trans candidatures for municipal councils have multiplied and a number of trans persons have been elected. Our partner Marco Aurélio Máximo Prado reported on this new and unexpected trend.
Then on November 30th, the Brazilian Supreme Court issued an unexpected decision regarding an abortion criminal case against doctors and nurses of a clinic in Duque de Caxias, a city neighboring Rio de Janeiro, which substantively contest the constitutionality of criminal laws restricting abortion. The conservative House of Representatives immediately reacted. The abortion frontline was once again in flames. Angela Freitas and Fábio Grotz analyzed the episode.
December
SPW joined a global campaign (All in for #Decrim!) aimed at celebrating the International Day Against Violence Against Sex Workers on December 17th, offering a short analysis of current policies and politics around sex work in Brazil and the UStwo countries deeply affected by the growth of as conservative forces.
That same week, the expert group meeting for the UN Commission on the Status of Women issued a report on women’s ecnomic empowerment that recognizes sex workers and trans workers rights.
In Malawi, a bill proposing that access to abortion is expanded has triggered intense public debate.
We recommend
Sexuality and Gender
Books
Queer Wars by Dennis Altman and Jonathan Symons
Sexualness by akshay khana
The doubleness of sexuality by Akhil Katyal
Papers and Articles
Subverting Love Stories – Clare Coultas
Transatlantic Gender Crossings – the new issue of #differences, edited by Anne Emmanuelle Berger and Éric Fassin,
Feminism Without Transphobia: Introduction – TSQ: Transgender Studies Quarterly
A Development Agenda for Sexual and Gender Minorities – Williams Institute
Africa, homophobia and Western hypocrisy, by Mathias Søgaard on Pambazuka
Why gender and sexuality are central to China’s relationships with the Global South – Susie Jolly
We queer people will do everything to ensure our liberty, even if it takes some Bollywoodising, by Vivek Divan
Why (chemical) castration will not end gender and sexuality based violence in Indonesia – by Priliantina Bebasari – IDS
Lesbian, Bisexual and Queer Women Speak Out in Kenya, by Neela Ghoshal, Human Rights Watch
Lebanon: How Public Health Can Affect LGBT Rights – by Omar Harfouch
24th issue of Sexuality, Health and Society – Latin American Journal
Transexuality and intersexuality
Gender incongruence of childhood in the ICD-11: controversies, proposal, and rationale – Jack Drescher, Peggy T Cohen-Kettenis, Geoffrey M Ree
The psycho-medical case against a gender incongruence of childhood diagnosis – Jack Drescher – The Lancet
The situation of the intersex community in Mexico – Laura Inter
Intersex: Stories and Statistics from Australia, Tiffany Jones, Bonnie Hart, Morgan Carpenter, Gavi Ansara, William Leonard and Jayne Lucke
The Politics of Bathrooms – Joshua Rothman, New Yorker
How did bathrooms get to be separated by gender in the first place? – The Guardian
Publications and resources
Gender, Sexuality and Social Justice: What’s Law Got to Do with It?, (IDS)
New report maps West African LGBTQ organizing – Queer African Youth Network
Where do we go from here? A call for critical reflection on queer/LGBTIA+ activism in Africa, by Liesl Theron, John McAllister and Mariam Armisen on Pambazuka
Global Resources Report: Philanthropic and Government Support for LGBTI Communities
The Road to Successful Partnerships: How governments in the Global North can effectively partner with intermediary organizations to support LGBTI communities in the Global South and East, by Global Philanthropy Project
Empower newsletter: Women and LGBT voices from Nigeria, by Women’s Health and Equal Rights Initiative (WHER)
Nigeria: Harsh Law’s Severe Impact on LGBT Community, by Human Rights Watch
Literature Review of LGBT Youth in Pakistan – NAZ Pakistan
Oral histories of LGBT people in Mongolia – LGBT Centre (Mongolia)’s Youth Leadership Program
Sri Lanka’s report: Discrimination on Grounds of Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation, by Human Rights Watch
Report: ‘These Political Games Ruin Our Lives’: Indonesia’s LGBT Community Under Threat’, by Human Rights Watch
The LGBT Divide in California: A Look at the Socioeconomic Well-being of LGBT People in California, by The Williams Institute
Stories of Intersex people from Nepal – Esan Regmi, Parsu Ram Rai and Jensen Byrne
Report: US – Transgender Women Abused in Immigration Detention – Human Rights Watch
Russia: report on discrimination of trans people – Transgender Legal Defense Project
Is Porn the New Sex Education? – Institute of Development Studies
Reproductive Health Matters: Sexuality, sexual rights and sexual politics,
Kohl’s issue: Beyond Victims and Savages – The Complexities of Violence, Resistance, and Pleasure
East Asia Forum Quarterly (EAFQ)’s – Gender and sexuality in Asia today
In Plainspeak : Science and Sexuality
In Plainspeak : Migration and Sexuality
Multimedia resource
Sonia Corrêa spoke on Thinking Sexualities, Globalities and the Politics of Rights from an Interdisciplinary Perspective, the LeverhulmeLecture, London School of Economics. November, 2016
Feminism and Women’s Rights
Papers and articles
How the West Undermined Women’s Rights in the Arab World, by Nicola Pratt – Jadaliyya
ISIS and Women: A STATUS/Conversation with Rafia Zakaria – Jadaliyya
Where are we heading? A Bangladeshi feminist’s reflections: Khushi Kabir – Kafila
Women: Movements, successes and obstacles – SUR nº24
The Contradictions, Resilience, and Creativity of Black Feminism in South Africa, by Maneo Mohale on Bitch Media
Ethiopian feminist movements and the role of Setaweet – Pambazuka
Why the Panama Papers are a feminist issue – Chiara Capraro and Francesca Rhodes –openDemocracy
Publications and resources
Equal Rights Review Vol 16 – issue on intersectionality
New web platform to uphold the universality of rights in the face of rising threats – Association for Women’s Rights in Development (AWID)
Violence against women in the Gaza Strip after the Israeli military operation ‘Protective Edge’ 2014 – Institute of Development Studies (IDS)
GenderIT edition: three key issues for a feminist internet: Access, agency and movements
Sexual and reproductive rights
Papers and articles
Bulletin on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights and the Internet – Tactical Tech
Threats of retrocession in sexual and reproductive health policies in Brazil during the Zika epidemic, by Beatriz Galli and Suely Deslandes
What Fiji’s Cyclone Winston Can Teach Us About SRHR and Climate Change – Youth Coalition
Publications and resources
Intersections and continuums in reproductive justice – Coalition of African Lesbians
Stand Up and Fight: Addressing Discrimination and Inequality in Solomon Islands, by Equal Rights Trust
The SRI’s National Sexual Rights Law and Policy Database is now live! – Sexual Rights Initiative
New study estimates contraceptive failure rates in 43 countries – Guttmacher Institute
Abortion
Papers and articles
The Incidence of Abortion in Nigeria, by Akinrinola Bankole, Isaac F. Adewole, Rubina Hussain, Olutosin Awolude, Susheela Singh and Joshua O. Akinyemi, at Guttmacher Institute
These things are dangerous: Understanding induced abortion trajectories in urban Zambia, by Ernestina Coasta and Susan F. Murrayb at Social Science & Medicine
Unsafe Abortion Is Common In Tanzania and Is A Major Cause of Maternal Death – Guttmacher Institute and Tanzania’s National Institute for Medical Research and Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences
Reform of abortion law in Uruguay: Context, process and lessons learned– by Susan Wood, Lilián Abracinskas, Sonia Corrêa and Mario Pecheny at Reproductive Health Matters issue 141
Thailand: Doctors must heed abortion needs – Bangkok Post
Publications and resources
The Uruguayan experience on preventing unsafe abortions – International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics
Malaysia: Legal and Policy Environment of Safe Abortion, by Reproductive Rights Advocacy Alliance Malaysia (RRAAM)
HIV/Aids
Papers and articles
The confinement of Eve: resolving Ebola, Zika and HIV with women’s bodies?, by Susana T. Fried and Alice Welbourn – openDemocracy
Books and resources
AIDS politics: Institutionalization of Solidarity, Exclusion of Context – by Hakan Seckinelgin (London School of Economics and Political Science)
Mapping & appraisal of HIV prevention and care interventions for men who have sex with men (MSM) in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe – by London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
Sex Work
Papers and articles
Why We Need to Bridge the Gap between Sex Workers’ Movements and Abortion Rights Activism – Kristin Francoeur and Surabhi Srivastava – In Plainspeak
Disability and sex work: developing affinities through decriminalization, by Kelly Fritscha, Robert Heynenb, Amy Nicole Rossc and Emily van der Meulend at Journal Disability and Society
Sex work: not prohibited, not permitted – Susana Fried – openDemocracy
Three myths about sex work that harm everyone – Joe Scott – openDemocracy
Why Cambodia’s sex workers don’t need to be saved – Public Radio International
Publications and resources
No Turning Back: Examining Sex Worker-Led Programs That Protect Health and Rights – Open Society
2015 Report on sex work activism, by International Committee on the Rights of Sex Workers in Europe (ICRSE)
The religious & gender/sexual politics
Papers and articles
Pope and Patriarch Misrepresent the True Meaning of Secularism and Seek to Impose their Beliefs on Others – Catholics for Choice
The New Morality of Pope Francis – James Carroll – New Yorker
Pope Calls Teaching About Gender Identity ‘Ideological Colonization’ – Think Progress
12 activists who will make you hopeful for feminist futures without fundamentalisms – AWID
Resurgent Sikh fundamentalism in the UK: time to act? – AWID
Publications and resources
Morocco: Religious Fundamentalism and Safe Abortion – Moroccan Family Planning Association and Asian-Pacific Resource and Research Centre for Women (ARROW)
When Exemption is the Rule: The Religious Freedom Strategy of the Christian Right – Political Research Associates
From the Vatican to Madrid, Paris and Warsaw: “Gender Ideology” in Motion – David Paternotte
Comparing anti-gender mobilizations in Europe – David Paternotte, Michael Stambolis-Ruhstorfer, Roman Kuhar and Paula-Irene Villa
Sexuality and Art
Call me Heenam – Bangladeshi hijras, by Open Society
Cindy Sherman: Infinite gender impersonations
Our lady of controversies – Alma López
Luiza Prado: Memories of Violence
These photos show the courage and tragedy of LGBTQ life in Peru – Public Radio International
Women artists: Maria Teresa Hincapié
Women artists: Njideka Akunyili Crosby
Eugenia Matricardi: body/water/combat
Barbara Wagner: bodies as they are
Desacralizing: Paula Rego’s Abortion Pastels
Space to abort: by Mujeres Creando
Proudly trans in Turkey: a Gabrielle Le Roux Project
Katia Sepúlveda: domestic devices
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