Inaugural Meeting of the World Sexual Health Assembly
- WAS Digital
- 3 days ago
- 4 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
PRESS RELEASE
[Porto, Portugal] – New global commitment to promote sexual health, rights, and justice
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8 September 2025
The first-ever World Sexual Health Assembly (WSHA) took place in Porto, Portugal, on Friday, 5 September. Building on decades of progress in Sexual Health, Rights and Justice, the WSHA brought together leaders and organizations from across the globe to address the increasing attacks on sexual health services, the sexual rights of marginalized and vulnerable people, and the pursuit of sexual justice.
Representatives of over forty organizations participated in the World Sexual Health Assembly, where the Porto Proclamation on Sexual Health, Rights and Justice was signed—a joint commitment to stand together to advance and defend sexual health, rights, and justice for all people.
Why now?
The Assembly comes at a critical time. Around the world, communities face political crises and armed conflicts, cuts to essential health funding, growing inequalities, humanitarian emergencies, and the escalating impacts of climate change.
Against these challenges, the World Sexual Health Assembly draws on the depth of knowledge and experience of participants, grounded in years of hard-won advances across diverse sectors, ensuring that commitments are built on strong foundations. Leaders pledged collaboration to ensure that everyone has access to inclusive, evidence-, rights- and pleasure- based, person-centered sexual health services, education, training, and information.
Shared Commitment
Dr. Faysal El Kak, President of the World Association for Sexual Health (WAS) and Chair of the WSHA, said:
“We have moved from fragmented advocacy to collective power. Together, we will make sexual health a core pillar of public health and human rights—and act with a shared purpose.”
Dr. Elna Rudolph, Chair of the Steering Committee of the WSHA, added:
“This landmark event built trust and solidarity among individuals and organizations, forging a path toward a future where sexual health, rights, and justice are not ideals but lived realities—anchored in the dignity of every person."
Prof. Pedro Nobre, host of the event and Past president of WAS said:
“I am grateful to all leaders of the global organizations that have travelled from around the world to meet in Porto and agree on a collective strategy to advance sexual health in challenging times."
Next Steps
The Porto Proclamation on Sexual Health, Rights and Justice sets global priorities for 2025–2030, including:
Strengthening sexual health, rights, and justice through collaboration and solidarity
Promoting and protecting universal access to quality and integrated sexual health services
Comprehensive sexuality education
Professional training
Creating a coordinated global narrative and advocacy strategy
Confronting misinformation, disinformation, and censorship
Strengthening evidence, data, education, and training to inform action and accountability
Developing digital strategies to amplify sexual justice narratives, counter misinformation, and reach broad and diverse audiences
Integrating sexual health, rights, and justice with broader justice and democracy movements
Ensuring sustainable and equitable funding for sexual health, rights, and justice
The WSHA is convened by the World Association for Sexual Health (WAS) and chaired by Dr Faysal El Kak from Lebanon, the President of WAS. A dedicated steering committee, reporting to the Advisory Committee and General Assembly of WAS, organized the event.
Organizations from across sectors and regions were represented at the World Sexual Health Assembly. These included observers from United Nations agencies, Professional Organizations, Regional Federations, regional and international non-governmental, civil society organizations, and professional training institutes.
The full text of the Porto Proclamation, along with the list of signatories, will be published on 16 September 2025.
The World Sexual Health Assembly Steering Committee:
Elna Rudolph (Chair), Eli Coleman, Esther Corona, Faysal El Kak, Erick Janssen, Eszter Kismödi, Pedro Nobre, and René de Klerk (Executive Director). (Plus Luis Perelman and Alain Giami on the founding committee of the WSHA).
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SHORT MEDIA RELEASE
Porto, Portugal – 8 September 2025
Global leaders gathered in Porto on 5 September for the first-ever World Sexual Health Assembly (WSHA), convened by the World Association for Sexual Health (WAS). The Assembly brought together representatives of over forty organizations to develop the Porto Proclamation on Sexual Health, Rights and Justice — a joint commitment to defend sexual health as integral to health, sexual rights as human rights, and sexual justice as essential for dignity and equality.
Building on decades of hard-won progress, and at a time of political crises, conflict, shrinking funding, and rising disinformation, the WSHA sets global priorities for 2025–2030 to strengthen sexual health, rights, and justice. These priorities include ensuring universal access to services and education, expanded professional training and coordinated advocacy, confronting misinformation, disinformation, and censorship, and securing sustainable funding for sexual health, rights, and justice.
The full text of the Porto Proclamation and its signatories will be published on 14 September 2025.
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About WAS
Founded in 1978, WAS serves as the global confederation of professional organizations, academics, clinicians, educators, and advocates dedicated to Sexual Health and Rights for All. Through six regional federations and more than 80 organizational members, WAS promotes sexual health as a fundamental human right.
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Media Queries
Dr. René de Klerk, WAS Executive Director
Email: exec@worldsexualhealth.net
Lisa Welsh, WAS Communications Lead.
Email: media@worldsexualhealth.net