Advancing sexual health through human rights : the role of the law

In order to ensure accountability for the rights and health of their populations, states have an obligation to bring their laws into line with international, regional and national human rights standards. It is vital that people in the health sector understand how health, human rights and law interact, and their relevance to both individual and public health. The paper presents examples of legal changes and new standards related to non-discrimination, criminalization and access to sexual health and human rights information and services, and points governments towards shaping a legal environment that will meet their human rights obligations and improve sexual health