Native Youth Sexual Health Network and Action Canada for Sexual Health and Rights made this submission in response to the resolution of the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council A/HRC/RES/30/40 on Human Rights and Indigenous Peoples which calls for submissions on the right to health and Indigenous Peoples, with a focus on children and youth. This submission highlights some key considerations for policy making and programme development as it relates to the realization of Indigenous Peoples’ right to health, with a particular focus on children and youth.
This report discusses the international human rights framework as it relates to Indigenous Peoples’ right to health with a focus on the full spectrum of sexual and reproductive health, rights and justice issues related to children and youth. Specific issues raised for discussion include: linkages between environmental violence and sexual and reproductive health, incidences of forced sterilization and coercive contraceptive practices, sexual and reproductive health of people who are incarcerated, Indigenous midwifery and access to harm reduction programmes.