November began with a resounding shift in global politics: Donald Trump was elected president of the United States. As the reactions flooded through the world media, SPW has developed 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, but in particular feminists, queer and voices from the South.
Trump’s election was not a singular event and must be tracked in a wave of conservative movements across the world that involves sexual politics. One of these events was the defeat of the referendum on the peace agreement between the Colombia government and the FARC that can be partially explained by a vicious attack of ‘gender ideology’ launched by dogmatic religious forces few weeks before. Colombian gender scholars have issued a public note on this attack and its effects. SPW has invited professor Mara Viveros — from the National University of Colombia — to write about the antecedents, effects and the role played by regressive gender and sexual politics of this unexpected political turn. We thank professor Viveros for her generosity.
In regard to the global sexual politics landscape, we also highlight the analysis developed by SPW’s partner Laura Trajber Waisbich about the last BRICS Summit, held in India in October. The article that examines the tensions between states, scholars and civil society actors in the Summit scene continues the ongoing SPW investment in the understanding of gender, sexuality and civil society politics in the context of the so called emerging powers.
At the United Nations, the mandate on and 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. At the ILGA Conference in Bangkok, the tenth anniversary of the Yogyakarta Principles on the Application of Human Rights Law on sexual orientation and gender identity, that is part of the trajectory leading to the creation of this mandate, was commemorated with the presence of the Independent Expert professor Vitit Muntarbhorn. To mark the date Arc International has launched an insightful analysis.
Attention must also be called to the various trans and intersex rights commemorative days that take place annually in October. Check the SPW compilation.
At the abortion frontlines, a legal reform in Armenia has prompted concerns from the women’s rights movements because it implies restrictions in the access to abortion.
Moving to Brazil two relevant highlights. In the recent local elections, despite a very regressive political environment, trans candidatures for municipal councils have multiplied and a number of trans activists have been elected. Our partner Marco Aurélio Máximo Prado reports and we thank him for the collaboration. Lastly, on November 30th , the 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 is once again in flames. Angela Freitas and Fábio Grotz report.
We recommend
Books, papers, articles
Sonia Corrêa has lectured on Thinking Sexualities, Globalities and the Politics of Rights from an Interdisciplinary Perspective at the London School of Economics
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
The politics of Global AIDS: Institutionalization of Solidarity, Exclusion of Context, by Hakan Seckinelgin (London School of Economics and Political Science)
Intersections and continuums in reproductive justice – Coalition of African Lesbians
Selling out: The gays and governmentality – Scott Long
Decolonising psychology creates possibilities for social change, by Shose Kessi at The Conversation
Gender Politics and Authoritarian Regime, by Jasmin Lorch and Bettina Bunk (German Institute of Global and Area Studies)
Ethiopian feminist movements and the role of Setaweet, by Pomi Ayalew on Pambazuka News
Constitutional developments in Latin American abortion law, by Paola Bergallo and Agustina Ramón Michel – International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics
What Led To The Decline Of The Matrilineal Society In Kerala? – Feminism in India
Sex, gender and far right’s global attack, by Ana Campoy on Quartz
Many voices have criticized the United Nations’ decision to nominate Wonder Woman as its ambassador for the empowerment of women and girls
Publications and resources
Partner for Law in Development’s July-August newsletter
Nigeria: Harsh Law’s Severe Impact on LGBT Community, by Human Rights Watch
Morocco: Religious Fundamentalism and Safe Abortion – Moroccan Family Planning Association and Asian-Pacific Resource and Research Centre for Women (ARROW)
Malaysia: Legal and Policy Environment of Safe Abortion, by Reproductive Rights Advocacy Alliance Malaysia (RRAAM)
Russia: report on discrimination of trans people, by Transgender Legal Defense Project
LGBTI Rights in Turkey and Recommendations, by Kaos GL
Is Porn the New Sex Education? – Institute of Development Studies
Check it out
European Intersex Community – the launching of a project that will for the first time make information about intersex available in 23 European languages
Sexuality and Art