I discovered on the World Health Organization’s website some years ago a page that (broadly) included Sex Ed as a human right. The idea makes absolute sense to me, and I’ve said that phrase many times ever since. Recently I needed to find the citation… and it took me for-ev-er. So, for my future self or anyone else… here’s a link to the WHO’s “working definition” about sexual health and sexual rights. They say:
“The fulfilment of sexual health is tied to the extent to which human rights are respected, protected and fulfilled. Sexual rights embrace certain human rights that are already recognized in international and regional human rights documents and other consensus documents and in national laws.”
and they list things critical to the realization of sexual health, including
“The rights to information, as well as education.”
So, it’s still just a “working definition” and not something that’s been fully ratified or whatever political process needs to happen for it to be an “official definition” but I’m putting it here so I can find it again the next time I need it! (and to share it with you, too, of course.) :^)
The International Women’s Health Coalition lists “comprehensive sex education” as part of their definition of sexual rights here.
In 1994 the United Nations convened the “International Conference on Population and Development” which also addressed sexual rights, and specifically the right to sexuality education. Wikipedia entry here.
National Sexuality Education Standards are here.