| Dear WAS Members and Friends,
Welcome to this week's edition of the World Association for Sexual Health (WAS) newsletter.
We are thrilled to share highlights from the 17th EFS Congress in Bologna, Italy, and provide you with a replay of our recent webinar celebrating the 10th Anniversary of the WAS Declaration on Sexual Rights. | | |
17th EFS Congress in Bologna, Italy
| | The European Federation of Sexology (EFS), a proud WAS federation, recently hosted its 17th Congress in the beautiful city of Bologna. This event was a remarkable opportunity for knowledge sharing, with incredible presentations and discussions on the latest advancements in Sexual Health and Rights.
We've captured some memorable highlights from the congress, including an announcement of the new EFS President, key symposia, and productive meetings between the WAS Advisory Committee and Executive Officers. | |  | WAS and EFS Executive meeting in Bologna.
From top left: Filippo Maria Nimbi, Stefano Eleuteri, Pedro Nobre, Luis Perelman, Charmaine Borg, Goran Arbanas.
Center: Patricia Pascoal.
From bottom left: Esben Esther Pirelli Benestad, Elna Rudolph, Mehmet Sungur, Alain Giami. | | |
Welcome Esben Esther Pirelli Benestad as the New President of EFS
| | We are delighted to announce that Esben Esther Pirelli Benestad, a distinguished and "transgifted" individual, has been elected as the new President of the European Federation of Sexology (EFS).
Esben Esther's leadership marks a significant milestone, and WAS fully supports the inclusion and leadership of trans and gender-diverse people in our communities and in the world.
Esben Esther's vision and dedication to advancing sexual health and rights align perfectly with our mission. Their appointment is a testament to the progress we are making towards a more inclusive and equitable society. | |  | | The EMFeSH Symposium | | The East Mediterranean Federation of Sexual Health (EMFeSH), a Federation of the World Association for Sexual Health (WAS), held a well-attended symposium at the Congress.
This symposium focused on how EMFeSH promotes and advocates for sexual reproductive health and rights throughout the lifespan and across the East Mediterranean region.
EMFeSH advances policy change, inclusive service provision, intersectionality research, science-based sexuality resources, comprehensive sexuality education, and outreach. | |  | | The WAS Sexual Justice Symposium | | |
The WAS Sexual Justice Symposium
| | The WAS Sexual Justice Symposium, held during the 17th EFS Congress, focused on addressing inequalities and advancing sexual justice. This symposium brought together experts to discuss transformative changes in political, health, educational, and judiciary systems.
Speakers such as Faysal El Kak, Stefano Eleuteri, Paolo Valerio and Denise Medico developed specific aspects of Sexual justice in different contexts including the Middle East and war situations, Prisons in Italy and inclusion of sexual justice in the WPATH Standards of Care (SOC8).
Key discussions aimed at lessening inequalities in access to citizenship and health systems, with a particular focus on the most underprivileged, oppressed, and discriminated populations.
Topics covered included social class, gender identities, sexual orientations, age, disabilities, and migrant status. The symposium underscored the importance of a comprehensive approach to achieving Sexual Justice for all. | |  | | The WAS-WHO Symposium | | |
WAS-WHO Symposium: Global Sexual Health Surveys
| | The WAS-WHO Symposium titled "Global Sexual Health Surveys: Building Global Cross-Cultural Research," took place during the 17th EFS Congress.
This symposium, organized and chaired by Pedro Nobre, Lianne Gonsalves and Elna Rudolph, showcased the collaborative efforts between the World Association for Sexual Health (WAS) and the World Health Organization (WHO) in advancing global and cross-cultural research in the field of sexual health.
Pedro Nobre introduced the World Observatory on Sexual Health, an ambitious project aimed at promoting evidence-based knowledge on sexual health and rights across different countries. Lianne Gonsalves, along with her colleagues, discussed the WHO Sexual Health Assessment of Practices and Experiences (SHAPE), a core questionnaire designed to collect comprehensive data on sexual practices and outcomes globally.
Koenraad Vermey highlighted the importance of dedicated population studies on sexual health, focusing on research on youth sexuality in Europe. This symposium underscored the critical need for high-quality, comparable data to inform policies and improve sexual health globally.
Finally, Alain Giami presented a historical perspective of sex surveys since the Kinsey era showing how specific contexts of research tend to develop new definitions of sexuality and health care implications. | |  | | The WAS Advisory Committee | | |
The WAS Advisory Committee
| | WAS operates through three key bodies:
- The General Assembly
- The Advisory Committee
- The Executive Committee
The Advisory Committee is a consultative, supportive, decisive, and supervising body whose fundamental role is to govern over the stability of WAS. Many of the committee members were present at the EFS Congress via Zoom, contributing to the rich discussions and strategic planning. | |  | | The WAS Executive Committee | | |
The WAS Executive Committee
| | | The Executive Committee is responsible for the day-to-day running of WAS, with officers and secretaries elected among the members of the Advisory Committee. At the EFS Congress, several members joined via Zoom, ensuring continued collaboration and leadership in advancing Sexual Health and Rights globally. | |  | | Sharing upcoming WAS initiatives | | The WAS Stand at the EFS Congress was a hub of activity, sharing vital information about upcoming events and initiatives.
Attendees learned about World Sexual Health Day on September 4, 2024, and the much-anticipated 27th Congress of the World Association for Sexual Health, which will be held in Brisbane, Australia, from June 16-19, 2025.
For those seeking more detailed information about the EFS Congress, we encourage you to visit the EFS Instagram or website. | | |
The WAS Sexual Rights Webinar: Replay
| | For those who missed it, we are happy to provide the replay of our webinar celebrating the 10th Anniversary of the WAS Declaration on Sexual Rights.
The webinar featured an esteemed panel of speakers who discussed critical themes such as the influence of technology on sexual rights, the effects of migration and war, and the ongoing challenges of criminalization. | | As we continue to work towards advancing Sexual Health and Rights globally, we look forward to your continued support and involvement in our initiatives.
Warm regards,
The World Association for Sexual Health
As we conclude, please remember to mark your calendars for these important upcoming WAS events:
World Sexual Health Day on September 4, 2024. Join us as we celebrate and advocate for Sexual Health and Rights across the globe.
The 27th Congress of the World Association for Sexual Health will be held in Brisbane, Australia, from June 16-19, 2025. We look forward to seeing you at this pivotal gathering for sharing research, insights, and advancements in Sexual Health and Rights. | | |  | |
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