| Dear WAS Members and Friends,
This week's newsletter highlights upcoming WAS Federation congresses in 2026, early notice of the next World Association for Sexual Health Congress, new writing on relational diversity in the context of Valentine's Day, an upcoming training from a WAS Organizational Member, and recent open-access research from the International Journal of Sexual Health.
| | | WAS Regional Federations: 2026 Congresses | | | | WAS works in formal partnership with independent regional federations that advance Sexual Health, Rights, and Justice within their own geographic contexts. Each federation operates autonomously, while aligning with the shared vision of Sexual Health and Rights for ALL.
The following federations have confirmed dates and locations for their 2026 annual congresses. | | | European Federation of Sexology (EFS) | | | Lisbon, Portugal | 28–30 May 2026
The EFS congress brings together clinicians, researchers, educators, and policymakers from across Europe to engage with current developments in sexology and sexual health. | | | Latin American Federation of Sexology and Sexual Education Societies (FLASSES) | | | Morelia, Mexico | 28–30 October 2026
Hosted jointly with FEMESS, this regional congress will convene professionals from across Latin America working in sexual health, education, and rights-based practice. | | Save the Date:
#WAS2027 Congress | | | | As originally announced at the closing ceremony of #WAS2025 in Brisbane, Australia, the 28th Congress of the World Association for Sexual Health will take place in September 2027 in Cape Town, South Africa.
The Congress will be scheduled around World Sexual Health Day (4 September 2027). Final dates will be confirmed and shared once arrangements are complete.
This will be the first WAS Congress hosted on African soil. A Congress was originally planned for South Africa in 2021, but was moved to a virtual format due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2027, the global WAS community will finally gather in person in Cape Town.
Hosting the Congress in Cape Town carries both symbolic and practical significance. The city is shaped by layered histories of struggle, resistance, creativity, and care, and by a long-standing commitment to human rights, diversity, and inclusion. Often referred to as the "Mother City," Cape Town is also recognized for its vibrant LGBTQIA+ communities and its role within South Africa's constitutional commitment to equality and dignity.
The 2027 Congress will create space for global dialogue grounded in the realities of the Global South, while welcoming participants from all regions. Further details, including the Congress theme, program structure, and deadlines, will be shared in due course. | | | IJSH Spotlight: Editor's Choice (Open Access) | | | | Typology, Risk, and Protective Factors of Reproductive Coercion:
A Narrative Literature Review of Studies from the US, Canada, Australia, and Europe
Charline Equeter, Stephan Van den Broucke & Françoise Adam | | | This open-access narrative review synthesizes findings from 68 studies examining reproductive coercion, including contraception sabotage, pressure around pregnancy decisions, and coercive control beyond the context of intimate partner violence.
The authors highlight persistent gaps in prevalence data, limited evidence on protective factors, and the need for broader prevention and intervention strategies that address structural inequality alongside interpersonal dynamics.
For practitioners, researchers, and policymakers, the article offers a consolidated and updated evidence base on an issue central to reproductive autonomy and sexual justice. | | | Aromantic Spectrum Awareness Week: Relational Diversity in Sexual Health | | | | A new blog post published on the WAS website marks Aromantic Spectrum Awareness Week, offering a timely counterpoint to Valentine's Day narratives that treat romantic attraction as universal.
The piece examines how sexual health systems often assume that intimacy, partnership, and well-being are anchored in romance, and how experiences that fall outside this script can become difficult to name in education, clinical practice, research, and policy. Intake forms, curricula, and assessment frameworks frequently embed a single relational trajectory, shaping what is recognized, questioned, or pathologized.
Rather than offering definitions or prescriptions, the blog invites professionals to notice how these relational norms operate in everyday practice. It highlights how separating romantic attraction, sexual attraction, and partnership can reduce misinterpretation and create greater alignment with people's lived realities. | | | WAS Organizational Member Event: SASHA SAR Training | | | | The Southern African Sexual Health Association (SASHA) is hosting its first Sexual Attitude Reassessment (SAR) training of 2026.
Details: 21–22 February 2026 | Online | SAST (UTC+2)
A SAR focuses on the practitioner rather than the client. Across two immersive days, participants engage with ethically curated explicit material, guided reflection, and facilitated group dialogue, with attention to how personal responses shape professional practice.
This experiential training is relevant for students, early-career practitioners, and established professionals across medical, psychosocial, and allied fields.
| | | These updates reflect the shared work of advancing sexual health through evidence, regional leadership, and inclusive practice.
Warm regards,
World Association for Sexual Health (WAS) | | 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.
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