A message from our new President

What's ahead for the global WAS community.

View this email in your browser A Message from the President of WAS, Faysal El Kak Dear friends, colleagues, members, and WAS family, It is with deep pride and purpose that I begin my term as President of the World Association for Sexual Health. I look forward to working with each of you, from every region and every discipline, as we advance our shared mission: sexual health and rights for ALL. I write to you from Beirut, Lebanon, where I serve as a clinician, educator, and researcher for sexual and reproductive health at the American University of Beirut. For many years, my work has centred on the needs of women and youth, especially those who are survivors of violence, living with cancer, or displaced as refugees, at both regional and global levels.   The AUB campus, consistently ranked as one of the world's most beautiful university campuses, is situated at the tip of the Ras Beirut peninsula, overlooking the Mediterranean. It is from this place of deep listening, learning, and collaboration that I step into this role with WAS. Sexual health is not a luxury; it is our right. It is essential to dignity, wellbeing, and global health equity. It is foundational to a just, inclusive world. Advancing these rights requires bold science, courageous advocacy, and unwavering collaboration. WAS President, Faysal El Kak, delivering a presentation at #WAS2023 in Antalya, Turkey No single voice can do this work alone. But together - across disciplines, cultures, communities, and borders - we are building a world where sexuality is embraced as a vital part of life and health, free from shame, violence, discrimination, and exclusion. Let WAS continue to be a space for connection, inspiration, and action. I invite each of you to share, learn, and lead in your clinics, your classrooms, your communities, and your countries. We are stronger together. We are more united, more heard, and more impactful - together.   WAS Next World Sexual Health Day: 4 September 2025 September is World Sexual Health Month, and this year's WSHD theme is: "Sexual Justice: What Can We Do?" This is a powerful moment for our global community to take action, in any way you can. Whether you're planning a webinar, a panel, a social media series, or a community gathering, we invite you to start thinking now about how you'll bring this year's theme to life. A full WSHD 2025 Toolkit, including messaging, presentation slides, social media graphics, and a participation guide will be released soon to support your planning. Let's make September a month of visible, vocal action for sexual health and rights for ALL. As we open this new chapter, I'm excited to introduce two small features that will appear in each issue of our newsletter - short moments of learning and celebration from across our global family. WAS Up A quick fact, reflection, or insight from the world of sexuality and sexual health Condom made from sheep intestine, c. 1800/Credit: Fine Art Images/Heritage Images/Getty Images Condoms have been around for over 3,000 years. The earliest known depictions of condom use appear in ancient Egyptian art, where linen sheaths were likely worn for protection or symbolic purposes. Later, materials like animal bladders and intestines were used in ancient Rome, China, and Japan, centuries before rubber revolutionised condom production in the 1800s. Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica – "Condom"   WAS in Photos A snapshot from our global community Brisbane, Australia - June 2025 During the Congress President's Lecture, Anita Brown-Major delivered a deeply moving message on behalf of the late Tess Devèze, whose passing just before the congress was felt profoundly. This powerful session, led by Congress President Armin Ariana, brought together voices from across diverse communities in Australia, calling us to imagine a more inclusive future for sexual health. (R-L Armin Ariana, Lauren French, Tessa Caramia, Candice Care-Unger, Amy Mullens, Lauren Muratore, Anita Brown-Major.) Do you have a WAS moment to share? We'd love to feature images from your events, your advocacy, or your community. Please send your photo and a short caption to our Communications Lead at media@worldsexualhealth.net. Please ensure that everyone in the photo has given permission for it to be shared publicly. I look forward to what we will create together in the months ahead. With commitment and solidarity, Faysal El Kak, M.D. President, World Association for Sexual Health (WAS)   Not on our mailing list yet? Sign up here! Click here to visit the WAS website Support the Mission of WAS We invite you to support the ongoing work of the World Association for Sexual Health (WAS). Your contributions help us continue our mission of promoting Sexual Health, Rights, and Justice globally. Consider becoming a supporting member or making a financial contribution today. Donations are tax-deductible in the USA. Donate Here Copyright © 2025 World Association for Sexual Health (WAS), All rights reserved. You are receiving this newsletter because you have previously expressed interest in our content by opting in on our website or through participation in one of our online events, such as our monthly webinars. We're committed to keeping you informed with the latest updates and insights. Our mailing address is: World Association for Sexual Health (WAS) 1300 South 2nd Street Suite 180 West Bank Office Building Minneapolis, Minnesota 55454 Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.