Dear WAS Members and Friends,
The countdown to World Sexual Health Day (WSHD) on 4 September 2025 has officially begun - and this week, we're getting started on how to plan your events.
But first, three important updates.
| | | WAS Federations: Leadership Transitions | | | | WAS extends warm congratulations to two newly elected Presidents of WAS Federations - and heartfelt thanks to their predecessors, who have each made a profound impact on our global community. | | | Asia-Oceania Federation
for Sexology (AOFS) | |
We congratulate Christopher Fox (Australia) on his appointment as President of the Asia-Oceania Federation for Sexology, following his election during the AOFS General Assembly on 17 June 2025. Christopher has long been a champion of rights-based, inclusive sexology across the region and beyond, and we look forward to continued collaboration and shared progress under his leadership. | | |
We also offer our sincere gratitude to Dr. Rosediani Muhamad (Malaysia) for her dedicated service as AOFS President from 2021 to 2025. Her leadership helped strengthen regional engagement, elevate visibility for Asia-Oceania voices, and advance sexual health and rights across diverse contexts. We are pleased to share that Rosediani has been elected to the WAS Advisory Committee - and will continue to play an active and valued role in our global work. | | | |
North American Federation of Sexuality Organizations (NAFSO)
| |
WAS is also proud to welcome Justin Sitron (USA) as the newly elected President of the recently renamed North American Federation of Sexuality Organizations (NAFSO). A longstanding advocate and academic, they bring a deep commitment to equity and professional excellence in sexual health education, therapy, and research. | | |
We extend our heartfelt thanks to Lynn Barclay (USA), who led NAFSH from 2021 to 2025 with energy, vision, and purpose. Lynn continues to serve as Chair of the WAS World Sexual Health Day Committee, and her leadership remains vital to the visibility and success of WSHD around the world. | | | | Slides from the #WAS2025 Congress Now Online | | | We're pleased to share that speaker slides from #WAS2025 are now available via the Program Agenda on the Congress website.
| | | Then click on the words "Presentation Slides" beneath the title and abstract, as seen in the screenshot below. Slides are only available for sessions where permission was granted by the speaker. | | Highlights from the
International Journal
of Sexual Health | | | The International Journal of Sexual Health, the official journal of WAS, is a leading global platform for research and insights in our field. We're pleased to share two new open access articles that are freely available to read and share.
Emotion Regulation & Faking Orgasm
Meskó, Csányi, Inhóf & Zsidó (2025)
Published: 8 June 2025
Read the article here
Why do some women fake orgasm? This study among Hungarian women explores the emotional and motivational dynamics behind the behavior, revealing strong links to emotion regulation difficulties, coping strategies, and relationship expectations.
Older Adults & Sexual Health Information
Bourchier, Bittleston, Malta, Temple-Smith & Hocking (2025)
Published: 6 July 2025
Read the article here
Based on a national survey in Australia, this article sheds light on how adults aged 60+ seek out, or sometimes avoid, sexual health information, and the gaps in access that still remain.
These articles are open access, and full journal access is included with WAS membership.
Click here to learn more about membership benefits.
Interested in publishing your work in the journal?
Watch our webinar on Getting Published in the International Journal of Sexual Health here. | | Sexual Justice:
What Can We Do? | | | WAS invites you to join us in making September, World Sexual Health Month, a time for bold advocacy, courageous conversation, and global action.
Whether you're organising a webinar, hosting a workshop, leading a street march, giving a school talk, or launching a social media campaign - we welcome your voice and your vision. Now is the time to begin. | | | Spotlight on WSHD 2025 Theme | | This year's campaign asks us to reflect on a powerful question:
What does sexual justice look like - and how can we help achieve it?
This theme builds on the WAS Declaration on Sexual Justice, a landmark document developed by a global steering committee through ongoing consultation over several years. The Declaration outlines the foundations, goals, and demands of sexual justice, and calls for urgent structural change to ensure that everyone, everywhere, can experience sexual health and rights.
| | | Sexual Justice Declaration | | The formal adoption of the WAS Declaration on Sexual Justice on 18 June was a defining moment of the Congress.
| | Over the coming weeks, we'll explore the four focus areas under this theme of Sexual Justice:
- Sexual Rights - ensuring freedom from discrimination, stigma, and shame
- Sexual and Reproductive Rights - protecting bodily autonomy and choice
- LGBTQ+ Adolescents - affirming their rights, identities, and dignity
- Access to Information - guaranteeing access to accurate, evidence-based education
We'll also share event ideas, sample messaging, and downloadable graphics to support your outreach.
| | | Click above to hear Alain Giami and Esther Corona-Vargas reflect on the Declaration and how it can be used as a tool for advancing sexual justice worldwide. | |
If you're planning an event for World Sexual Health Day this year, big or small, we'd love to hear from you. Complete this simple form linked below to share details with us. Select events will be featured in upcoming newsletters and on our social platforms.
| | Last year's WSHD had record-breaking reach:
- 55 events in 21 countries
- 4.2 million digital impressions
- 11,200 social interactions
Let's make 2025 even louder! | |
In this week's photos, we're featuring Mérida, Spain 2023, when World Sexual Health Day lit up the city - literally.
In partnership with the Department of Social Services, the City Council hosted a press conference on the importance of Consent, reaching local and regional media. That evening, the city's iconic Roman monuments, including the Town Hall, Roman Bridge, and Temple of Diana, were illuminated in WAS colours: orange and blue.
Do you have a photo from any WSHD events you'd like us to feature?
Email your image and short caption to media@worldsexualhealth.net.
We're looking forward to sharing more and hearing from you.
Together, let's make this September a visible moment for sexual health and rights worldwide.
The World Association for Sexual Health
| | 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. | | | |  | |
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