| schema:text
| - Last Updated on October 22, 2024 by Nivedita
Quick Take
Various social media posts claim that in new guidelines, the World Health Organization (WHO) is set to classify a person unable to find a suitable sexual partner or achieve pregnancy after 12 months or more of regular unprotected sex as disabled. We fact-checked and found this claim to be False.
The Claim
A Twitter post shares an image titled, “Failure to find a sexual partner now a disability- WHO.” It further reads, “It is either you have sex, or you are considered disabled. People who do not have sex or struggle to find a suitable sexual partner to have children will now be considered disabled.”
It further states, “ According to reports, in the new guidelines, the World Health Organization (WHO) is set to classify a person who is unable to find a suitable sexual partner or achieve pregnancy after 12 months or more of regular unprotected sex; as disabled.”
Similar claims circulated on Facebook as well.
Fact Check
What is the definition of ‘Disability’?
The definition of Disability varies widely across regions. Many of these definitions are often incomplete and may even contradict each other. Few widely accepted definitions are as follows.
The CDC defines disability as “any condition of the body or mind (impairment) that makes it more difficult for the person with the condition to do certain activities (activity limitation) and interact with the world around them (participation restrictions).”
The WHO states, “Disability results from the interaction between individuals with a health condition, such as cerebral palsy, Down syndrome and depression, with personal and environmental factors including negative attitudes, inaccessible transportation and public buildings, and limited social support.”
The UN states, “The term persons with disabilities is used to apply to all persons with disabilities including those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various attitudinal and environmental barriers, hinders their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others.”
In India, there is a law called the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act (RPWD) that was enacted in 2016. This law defines disabilities and safeguards the rights of individuals with disabilities. It states that a disability can be a long-term issue affecting the body or the mind. Under this act, type 1 diabetes may qualify as a disability. Similarly, knee osteoarthritis may also be considered a disability if it substantially restricts a person’s ability to engage in major life activities.
As public health discussions evolve, the implications of various health claims, like those from major organizations or corporations, shape our understanding of wellness in society, similar to how misconceptions about obesity are propagated in media.
Did the WHO state that ‘failure to find a sexual partner is a disability?’
No. There is no evidence proving that WHO has stated that failure to find a sexual partner is a disability. The article shown in the image vaguely described the supposed news sources as “reports,” not citing any specific person representing the WHO in an official capacity. The official website of WHO shows no such trace that it is set to classify a person who is unable to find a suitable sexual partner or achieve pregnancy after 12 months or more of regular unprotected sex as disabled as of the time of the publication of this article. Similarly, no spokesperson from WHO has announced this publicly. So, the claim remains false until credible information is available to verify that.
|
![[RDF Data]](/fct/images/sw-rdf-blue.png)
![[cxml]](/fct/images/cxml_doc.png)
![[csv]](/fct/images/csv_doc.png)
![[text]](/fct/images/ntriples_doc.png)
![[turtle]](/fct/images/n3turtle_doc.png)
![[ld+json]](/fct/images/jsonld_doc.png)
![[rdf+json]](/fct/images/json_doc.png)
![[rdf+xml]](/fct/images/xml_doc.png)
![[atom+xml]](/fct/images/atom_doc.png)
![[html]](/fct/images/html_doc.png)