Sustainability, human rights, and sexuality: Making the right connections

Abstract

This article looks at the local-global nexus of sexuality and human rights, but moves on to examine social sustainability and sustainable development and the link to human rights through concepts such as equality, justice, dignity and diversity. Although liberal attitudes towards sex and sexuality run parallel to conservative, homophobic and religious views, the importance of equality legislation in European countries has been increasingly evidenced through transnational influence on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender concerns in other countries. The article examines developments and setbacks to equality legislation and then goes on to make the case for human rights (via the emphasis on sexual equality) as an essential pillar of sustainability.

Rethinking State Social Responsibility With the Creation of Shared Public Value

“…On the other hand, the characteristics of the PV cover those existing in social protection and SSR, in addition to adding new responsibilities to the State. In this case, the promotion of sustainability is a way of maintaining the fundamental rights (Santos, 2017;Takhar, 2015;Tzagkarakis et al, 2017) and vulnerability reduction (Ezeibe, Oguonu, Ajaero, Osadebe, Agbo & Uwaechia, 2019), while the involvement of stakeholders in the elaboration of public policies also has the function of providing information (Benington, Mintrom & Luetjens, 2015, Moore, 2011). This scope, followed by the maintenance of the State's objective responsibility and ethics in state actions, would form the conceptual connections.…”

Generating the New Dimensions of Social Sustainability into Sustainable Urban Development Policy

“…Below, these sub-elements can be clarified, as such: better environmental protection, by creating conditions conducive to modify behavioral patterns that lead to environmental degradation, reduction of the environmental impact of poverty, and patterns of unsustainable development....". Additionally, Moser (as cited in Takhar, 2015) pointed out that the rights-based approach examines socioeconomic development through a human rights lens. This approach continuously promotes the eradication of marginalization and exclusion, since it is well written as human rights' standpoint of social sustainability.…”

“…Furthermore, Conway (as cited in Takhar, 2015) argues that the lack of legal acceptance over human rights issues, even until today, seems adequate to encourage the government into putting considerable attention towards this particular dynamic; since there is no guarantee it would be respected by elites or enforced by the state. Subsequently, the City of Fort Collins (2016) created a range of policy recommendations, such as: raising awareness towards active and healthy lifestyle, improving access to mental or behavioral health services and healthy food, preserving and providing responsible access to nature, engaging citizens in education and change behavior towards sustainable living practices, improving safety and accessibility of all modes of travel, and lastly improving the community involvement, education, and regional partnerships.…”

Configuring human rights at EuroPride 2015

“…In a comparative study of the UN and EU qua LGBT human rights, Sweibal (2009) is critical of this lack of engagement by the UN. Moreover, Takhar (2015) highlights that at international level sexual rights have focused predominantly on women's sexuality and reproduction rights. With that said, The General Assembly of the UN recently made recommendations related to human rights and SOGI (e.g.…”

“…Concurring with Murray (2006), Takhar (2015) And yet, as Murray (2006) demonstrates through his story of Pat who is a member of a gay support group who carries with him the UDHR (two sheets of paper he has downloaded from the www, which he presents when he feels he deserves to be treated with dignity and respect), formal universal human rights do exist in Barbados. Murray's anecdote illustrates the 'Ghostly' vii nature of UDHR.…”