About WAS
WAS is a Confederation representing thousands of people who work in Sexual Health globally, including Healthcare Professionals, Educators and Activists.
WAS is actively creating a world in which all people have access to Sexual Health, Rights, Justice and Pleasure.
WAS achieves this through its regional federations, global memberships and strategic collaborations with international partners.
WAS Federations
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WAS Executive Officers
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President:
Elna Rudolph
SOUTH AFRICA
Medical Doctor, Sexologist and Clinical Head of My Sexual Health
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Vice-President:
Alain Giami
FRANCE
Emeritus Research
Professor INSERM
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Past President:
Pedro Nobre
PORTUGAL
Professor of Psychology & Director of the Faculty of Psychology & Edu Sciences at the University of Porto
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Secretary-General:
Luis Perelman-Javnozon
MEXICO
Sexuality Educator and Activist,
Co-Founder of El Armario Abierto
Appointed Members of the WAS Executive Committee
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Esther Corona Vargas
MEXICO
Founder and past President of the Mexican Association for Sexuality Education (AMES)
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Jeyarani Kamaraj
INDIA
MBBS, DGO - Gynecology& Obstetrics
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Eszter Kismödi
SWITZERLAND
CEO of SRHM, JD, LLM.,
International Human Rights Lawyer
on SRH Law, Policy and Research
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Esben Esther Pirelli-Benestad
NORWAY
Physician, Sexologist and
Ph.D. Researcher
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Erick Janssen
BELGIUM
Professor in Sexology and Director of the Institute for Family and Sexuality Studies at the University of Leuven
WAS Federation Presidents
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Asia-Oceania Federation for Sexology (AOFS):
Rosediani Muhamad
MALAYSIA
European Federation of Sexology (EFS):
Esben Esther Pirelli-Benestad
NORWAY
Latin American Federation of Sexology and Sex Education Societies (FLASSES):
Felipe Hurtado Murillo SPAIN
North American Federation for Sexual Health (NAFSH):
Lynn Barclay
USA
East Mediterranean Federation of Sexual Health (EMFeSH):
Faysal El Kak
LEBANON
Sexual Health Africa (SHA): SHA will be the newly formed official federation of
WAS in Africa
WAS Mission Statement
WAS promotes and advocates for sexual health and sexual rights throughout the lifespan and worldwide by advancing sexology, science-based sexuality knowledge, research, comprehensive sexuality education, clinical care and services.
The mission of WAS is carried out through:
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Promoting sexual rights for all.
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Developing the field of sexuality, sexual health, and sexology.
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Facilitating the dissemination and exchange of information, ideas, and experiences.
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Promoting scientific and ethical standards for educating professionals and others working in the area.
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Establishing and maintaining working relations with official regional federations, member organizations, international agencies, organizations, and societies.
The purpose of WAS is to advance international cooperation in the field of Sexual Health and to coordinate activities designed to increase research and knowledge in sexual health and sexual rights, including sexuality education, sexual medicine, psycho-sexology, policy-making and advocacy.
How does WAS work?
WAS has regional representation in the form of its Official Federations.
The work of WAS is done through committees chaired by WAS Advisory Committee members and functions under specific terms of reference.
The highest governing body of WAS is the General Assembly which consists of representatives of all the WAS Membership Organizations.
The Advisory Committee of WAS is elected by the General Assembly and has the function to approve or deny any recommendation for membership made by the Executive Committee.
The day-to-day running of the organization is the responsibility of the officers (President, Vice-President, Secretary General and Immediate Past-President).
The President and Vice-President of WAS are elected by the Advisory Committee and the Secretary General is appointed by the President.
WAS is aligned with the 2030 Agenda of the UN and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with WAS working actively toward the realization of almost all of the SDGs.
WASapp, mobile companion to WAS members
Enjoy member benefits like access to webinars via WASapp.
WAS Theory of Change
WAS is actively creating a world in which:
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People make informed, autonomous, ethical and respectful Sexual Health choices.
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Laws and policies are applied to ensure Sexual Health, Rights and Justice for ALL.
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Sex positive attitudes and beliefs are embraced around the world and diversity is widely accepted.
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Scientific, evidence- and rights-based, experience-informed, context-sensitive knowledge about sexuality is widely accessible and not censored.
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Gender equality is achieved within the most comprehensive understanding of gender, including that of Trans and Gender Diverse Individuals.
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Sexual violence and harm are eliminated under all circumstances.
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Comprehensive sexuality education is standard practice in and out of school.
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Professional standards are well-developed and regulated on ethical and best-practice guidelines to ensure the highest quality of clinical and other sexual health services around the globe.
The WAS Theory of Change outlines the eight key outcomes WAS aims to achieve for long-term societal improvement.
Here it is overlaid with our values and interdisciplinary approach.
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