IPPF marks the first World Sexual Health Day
4 September is the first World Sexual Health Day - an international celebration of sexual health and sexual rights organized by the World Association for Sexual Health.
Its purpose is to encourage open and respectful discussion about sex.
As partner to the World Association for Sexual Health, IPPF is delighted to support this new annual event to celebrate sexual health matters and break the taboos surrounding sexual health and rights.
Sexual rights are human rights and their denial has severe consequences for the wellbeing of women, men and young people in every country and every culture.
To mark World Sexual Health Day, IPPF is publishing ‘Sexual Rights in Action’ – a collection of real life stories from around the world that document what it is like to live in a world where your rights are denied, where there is discrimination, stigma and abuse.
In Afghanistan, for example, Zubaida describes her life being married off at 13 to an abusive stranger, an older man; from Cameroon, Jean Felix tells what it is like to live in hiding from state-sponsored anti-gay persecution; while Beybeti draws on her own experience to campaign against female genital mutilation in Mauritania – something she describes as ‘sexual terrorism’.
Read more: Sexual Rights in Action
IPPF Director-General Dr Gill Greer:
“Human rights are for all people. Without these none of us can fulfil our potential. Sexual rights are an integral part of human rights; without them people are vulnerable to numerous abuses. The stories in Sexual Rights in Action show why sexual rights are worth fighting for. When sexual rights are respected, they can improve the health and lives of both individuals and communities, reduce violence against women, decrease rates of maternal mortality and HIV, and contribute to social justice and equality.”
For further information contact Jennifer Woodside on:
+44 (0)207 939 8227; +44 (0)7971 270796
IPPF is both a service provider and an advocate of sexual and reproductive health and rights. We are a worldwide network of 151 Member Associations active in over 170 countries.
IPPF on sexual rights
World Association for Sexual Health events are taking place in 27 countries, celebrating happy, healthy sexuality. This year’s - ‘Let’s talk about it’ – tackles intergenerational discussion about sex.
Other events include ‘flash mobs’ in public spaces, TV and radio discussions, film shows and a competition for the best web-based sexual health campaign.
Find out more at: www.worldsexology.org/