Sexual justice happens when all people have the power and resources to experience sexual health, rights and pleasure, free from discrimination or violence.
How do we achieve it? Sexual justice means ensuring that everyone has access to sexual and reproductive health services as well as choices to engage in consensual sexual activity and to pursue a safe and pleasurable sexual life. It requires protecting the right to bodily autonomy, regardless of age, gender, HIV or disability status, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religion or location. Defending the rights, dignity, needs and identities of all LGBTQIA+ people is key.
Also critical to sexual justice: Accurate, inclusive and culturally sensitive comprehensive sexuality education, which empowers people to make informed choices, to prevent HIV and to protect against gender-based violence. In addition, high-quality, accessible sexual health information and also services should include tailored measures to meet specific needs, including those of marginalized groups.
Violations of sexual and reproductive rights – which can occur in personal relationships, in healthcare and in legislation – undercut sexual health and deny sexual pleasure. Such violations must stop. Legal and policy reforms must fully protect sexual and reproductive rights and end discrimination and harmful practices such as female genital mutilation and child marriage, including by closing data gaps. Human rights bodies should fight widespread impunity for rights violations by challenging social stigmas and developing systems for greater accountability.
UNFPA promotes sexual health worldwide by advocating for the right to bodily autonomy and supporting access to essential sexual and reproductive health services, without discrimination. In times of stability and crisis alike, UNFPA works to ensure access to contraception, comprehensive sexuality education, maternal health and services to prevent and respond to gender-based violence and harmful practices. Join us on this World Sexual Health Day in the quest for sexual justice.
