Sexual Rights series: The right to one's own sexuality

The first sexual right is the right to one’s own sexuality.

Everyone has the right to their own sexuality. Sexuality is a basic human characteristic that cannot be separated from other aspects of being a human being. All people have the right to feel sexual desire, to fantasise and experience sexual enjoyment, and to define and express their sexual orientation and gender as they wish. The realisation of rights related to sexuality strengthens an individual’s identity and self-esteem.

In simple terms, sexuality is what we are. Sexuality is individual, diverse and develops throughout life. Sexuality is both bodily and mental. It is an individual’s resource and a foundation for their wellbeing. Sexuality may include enjoyment and seeking your own sexual identity. Sexuality can also be expressed in many different ways, such as through different acts, thoughts, beliefs and values.

Finding one’s sexual identity is central to one’s own sexuality and often also a significant part of an individual’s self-esteem. Everyone has the right to their own sexual identity and permission to express it as they wish. Sexual identity includes different dimensions, such as recognising one’s own sexual needs, sexual orientation and sexual preferences, sexual values and ways of expressing one’s own sexuality. These are also strongly associated with the right to enjoy sexuality. Key factors enabling sexual enjoyment include the right to bodily integrity, consent, safety, trust and the opportunity to speak openly about one’s own sexuality.