The impact on mental and physical health of human rights as they relate to gender and sexual minority adolescents and emerging adults

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the human rights issues pertinent to adolescents of diverse sexual orientation and gender identities and the health consequences resulting for the transgression of these rights. In 1948, the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution endorsing the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Yet, 73 member states criminalize the activities of these individuals. The other member states do not impose legal penalties on these activities, yet sexual and gender minority youth within these states continue to experience acts of physical and psychological aggression.

Design/methodology/approach

A commissioned position paper grounded in a convenient scholarly literature review on this topic.

Findings

Human rights transgressions by states or individuals lead to minority stress affecting the mental health and physical health of these youth.

Originality/value

The author makes a number of recommendations to address some of the impact resulting from the transgression of human rights in the world.

Citation

Tellier, P.-P. (2017), "The impact on mental and physical health of human rights as they relate to gender and sexual minority adolescents and emerging adults", International Journal of Human Rights in Healthcare, Vol. 10 No. 3, pp. 213-220. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJHRH-01-2017-0003