Human rights of children, adolescents, and youth at the center of brazilian sexual politics: challenges for public policies

Expressions of gender and sexuality among children and adolescents have played a fundamental role in the dispute over conceptions and values related to sexuality and gender in Brazilian society in recent decades. This article stems from a research trajectory aimed at contributing to the reflection on how different Brazilian institutions and public policies-and the actors involved in them-address childhood and adolescent expressions of gender and sexuality, particularly regarding sexual and gender diversity. The article discusses the possibility of understanding sexual rights as fundamental human rights of children, adolescents, and youth, and highlights their centrality in recent public controversies within the Brazilian context. It explores some of the challenges faced by public policies in incorporating youth sexual rights, based on the understanding that childhood and youth represent a strategic point for analyzing the ongoing transformations in Brazilian sexual politics.

Keywords:
sexual politics; human rights; sexual rights; youth; public policy.