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poverty as a series of 'un-freedoms' that restrict human capabilities to
provide for ourselves and shape our lives, the goal of development is
increasingly perceived in terms of enhancing human well-being. Sexual
fulfilment and autonomy often enhance people's well-being, while vio-
lence and discrimination related to sexuality represent forms of poverty
and the deprivation of human agency and capabilities. Thus, sexuality
does not concern only sex and intimate relations between individuals
but, rather, 'the social rules, economic structures, political battles and
religious ideologies that surround physical expressions of intimacy
and the relationships within which such intimacy takes place' (Corrêa
and Jolly, 2008: 5).
Violations of sexual rights and poor sexual and reproductive health
are thus integral to development and represent both a cause and conse-
quence of poverty (Cornwall and Jolly, 2006). The links between sexual-
ity and poverty can be analysed according to Robert Chambers' web of
poverty (see Figure 4.4.1) (Cornwall and Jolly, 2006). The examples
demonstrate that many aspects of development and poverty reduction
are related to dimensions of exclusion and disadvantage based on sexu-
ality. Development efforts thus need to focus on ensuring the rights of
people to a pleasurable and safer sex life, free of prejudice, risk or cen-
sure (Corrêa and Jolly, 2008).
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Sexualities, Violence and Marginalization
While development agencies have been reluctant to address questions
of sexuality, neoconservative actors, faith-based organizations and
political groups have taken strong positions on issues of sex and sexual-
ity. Neoconservative interests, for example, have promoted abstinence
from sexual relations to prevent the spread of HIV, and the denial of
contraception to young people and non-married women. They have
advocated the criminalization of abortion, repression of homosexuality
and the withdrawal of funding from those working with sex workers
(Corrêa and Jolly, 2008).
Religious and political discourses about the sexual orientation of les-
bian, gay, bisexual and transgender people have become increasingly
vociferous in many countries in recent years. In sub-Saharan Africa,
this has resulted in widespread stigmatization and violence directed
