What is the World Sexual Health Assembly (WSHA)?
The World Sexual Health Assembly (WSHA) is a global meeting convened by the World Association for Sexual Health (WAS). It brings the organizations that shape sexual health around the world into one room: UN agencies, international and regional bodies, professional societies, universities and research institutes.
​
The purpose is simple.
Agree on what matters most, then act on it together.
​
A flagship WAS project
The Assembly is one of WAS's flagship projects. It is where the global field sets shared priorities, rather than each organization working to its own.
​
The first Assembly was held at the University of Porto, Portugal, in September 2025. where signatories committed to meeting annually.
Meeting every year gives the movement momentum, a fixed point to report progress, adjust priorities and hold one another to account.
​
The next Assembly takes place over World Sexual Health Day, September 2-4, 2026, in Stellenbosch, South Africa.
​
Why it exists
Sexual health and rights are under real pressure: political rollbacks, disinformation, funding cuts, conflict and widening inequality.
At the same time, the field is strong but scattered. Many organizations work on the same problems without a shared plan.
The Assembly exists to close that gap, to set common priorities, coordinate advocacy and speak with one voice.
​What came out of Porto
The first Assembly produced the Porto Proclamation on Sexual Health, Rights, and Justice, together with a set of strategic priorities for 2025 to 2030.
​
It affirms three things:
-
Sexual health is essential to health, dignity and development.
-
Sexual rights are human rights.
-
Sexual justice builds a more equal and inclusive world.
​
The priorities include defending sexual health against rollbacks and disinformation, universal access to person-centered and pleasure-inclusive services, confronting stigma and censorship, expanding professional training and comprehensive sexuality education, strengthening evidence, and securing sustainable funding.​​
​Why this should matter to you
Because it changes what you can do in your own work.
​
-
It gives you a framework agreed by leading organizations worldwide, not just your own institution's position.
-
It gives you language and evidence you can take to funders, ministries and boards.
-
It connects your work to a global agenda, so local wins build into something larger.
-
It creates accountability. Priorities are public, and progress is reviewed every year.​
Become a Sustaining Donor of the WSHA
Join a growing global movement for Sexual Health, Rights, and Justice and help power the next chapter - convening on World Sexual Health Day, September 4, 2026, in Stellenbosch, South Afria.
Your pledge sustains collaboration, advocacy, and coordinated action worldwide.
.png)
The time to act is NOW
-
Read and download the Porto Proclamation. The full paper is free to access in the International Journal of Sexual Health until December 31, 2026. Endorse it. Share it. Access the paper here.
-
Become a Sustaining Donor of the WSHA. Make your pledge here.
​
What happened in Porto should not stay in Porto.
Get Involved
WSHA Steering Committee
​
-
Eli Coleman (Chair)
-
Esther Corona-Vargas
-
René de Klerk
​
-
Faysal El Kak
-
Erick Janssen
-
Eszter ​Kismődi
​
-
Pedro Nobre
-
Tammary Rotich
-
Elna Rudolph