Editors:       Cristina Tania Fridman         Alain Giami

Contributors: Kevan Wylie, Federation Presidents, Chairs Committees; Jaqueline Brendler; Rafael García Alvarez; Chiara Simonelli; Marlene Wasserman; D. Narayana Reddy; Woet Gianotten.

1- A message from the President

Dear friends and colleagues

Welcome to our June newsletter packed full of information sourced by Cristina and Alain. Thank you to everyone who has made the time to share some of their work and news in the newsletter, it is so important to let everyone be aware of try important work being done within WAS, the regional federations and member societies. Indeed, the vast majority of the committees are now starting to progress through their agreed work plans and I shall ask all committee chairs to provide a further summary for the September issue of the newsletter one year into our current administration.

At our next General Assembly we will be recommending some changes to the statutes. Pierre is leading the governance committee so please ensure you share your ideas with him so that these are heard in advance of the discussions and deliberations for any proposed changes.

We have faced recurring financial difficulties in securing a PCO for Singapore and much of my time and energy has been involved in meeting and negotiating with four companies to secure a suitable partner to act as both our congress organiser as well as to provide association management to the Association. The latter is crucial in the professional running of our Association and we have some very exciting developments that will hopefully improve member communications and secure additional benefits to individuals regardless of how the individual member secures membership of WAS. More details will be distributed over the next couple of months.

With the signature of the contract, we will be able to invite tenders for the 2017 and 2019 congress hosts and cities.

Financial pressures also continue for our journal and under the negotiation of our past president Eusebio and editor Eli, we have essentially secured an alternative contract with Taylor & Francis for access to our journal. More details will follow shortly.

With the PCO in place, we will work towards the planning of our 2015 congress in Singapore. Ganesh and his local team and Pedro Nobre leading the scientific committee have already started the detailed planning necessary to make this a success.

I would also like to share details of the first joint educational meeting between WAS and the International Society for Sexual Medicine (ISSM). This will take place in March next year in the Americas and will hopefully bring some financial benefit as well as extending the breadth to the clinical programme with our involvement. Again, more details will follow shortly.

By the time of our next newsletter, WSHD will have taken place and I urge all of you to try to identify a local team or society to run the day in your country or territory. Full details are contained within our newsletter. We will be coordinating the launch of the hugely successful rewrite of our Declaration of Sexual Rights under the leadership of Eli and Esther who with the special task force provided a strong declaration that was mentioned at the UN meeting in April. This speech by Esther can be viewed in full following the links from our web pages.

My personal congratulations are extended to all four 2015 Gold Medal winners. More details are within the newsletter and all speakers are invited to Singapore next year to receive their prize and deliver a lecture.

I had the pleasure to represent and co-chair the session on sexuality education at the recent meeting of the European Society of Contraception and Reproductive Health. We are hoping to secure future collaboration with the team involved in the project with WHO on the issue of the education guidelines, implementation and critical review.

Please remember to share your information with us and as our AM team (after appointment) become familiar with the work of WAS we hope to extend the current social media channels to keep everyone informed both inside and outside of WAS of our work and the valuable role each of you contribute to the success of the Association.

Continue with your great work in the field of Sexual Health and remember to share your experiences through our newsletter.

3 - News from WAS COMMITTEES

A Statutory Committee

MEMBERSHIP

Chair: Pedro Nobre (Portugal)
Vice-Chair: Maryanne Doherty-Poirier (Canada)
Field Leaders
Basic Sciences: Erick Janssen (USA)
Behavioral & Social Sciences: Osmo Kontula (Finland)
Clinical Sciences: Marita MacCabe (Australia)
Educational Sciences: Aleksandar Štulhofer (Croatia)
Medical Sciences: Andrea Salonia (Italy)
Public Health: Maryanne Doherty-Poirier (Canada)
Sexual Rights: Yuko Higashi (Japan)

Objectives:

The main objectives of the WAS Scientific Committee for the 2014-2017 periods are:

To monitor the standards and quality of scientific activities undertaken on behalf of WAS in particular the biennial congress.

The Committee will work in order to help developing high scientific quality meetings in Singapore 2015 and 2017. This will include monitoring the quality of the accepted submissions (both posters and oral communications) and coordinating the process of selecting invited speakers, plenary sessions, and symposia. The members of the WAS SC will be responsible to coordinate each of the seven tracks: Basic Science, Behavioral & Social Sciences, Educational Sciences; Medical Sciences, Public Health, Sexual Rights. Each Track leader will be responsible to monitor the quality of the submissions for that track and should suggest a list of experts in the field to be part of the Congress Scientific Committee.

To proceed with the project for the development of the World Database on Sexual Health

The first phase is ongoing (goal 1) and the objective for the 2014-2017 period is to start the second phase including goals 2 and 3.

GOAL 1: To / create and store a database/archive of all available scientific literature in the main topics of sexual health (sexual behaviour, sexual problems, sexual education, HIV/AIDS, reproductive health, sexual rights, sexual aggression, sexual health and well-being)

GOAL 2: To collect and store with available information from several organizations (e.g., WHO, Unaids, UNO, Unesco, Research centers, etc.) indicators of sexual health/sexual rights across several countries.

GOAL 3: To promote the development of comparable studies on a variety of key dimensions of sexuality (e.g., sexual behavior, sexual health, sexual rights) across different countries worldwide. In order to accomplish this goal we should be able to establish partnerships with key research centers across the world that would be interested and willing to write grants to fund this project. This could include regional grants or Cross-national funds (e.g., European Union, WHO, UNO, Ford Foundation, etc.).

To propose the development of online advanced training programs in the main topics of sexual health and sexual rights

These advanced training programs may include brief and specific training actions in a given topic, or be broader and cover the main topics of sexual health. The SC members in accordance with the WAS Education Committee may propose actions and suggest world experts in the field to constitute a list of Faculty.

To propose and prepare evidence based Position Papers on relevant topics of sexual health and sexual rights matters.

The preparation of the position papers should have the input of all members of the Scientific Committee with particular emphasis on the experts on the subject matter under debate. The track leader of the Sexual Rights should have a predominant role in this regard and be responsible to propose position papers and prepare drafts incorporating the input of the members.

To propose the development of alternative formats for the WAS meetings exploring the possibilities of online technologies.

The development of webinars or web meetings should not compete with the biennial WAS Congress but should create alternative options for professionals and interested colleagues across the world to assist and participate in the WAS scientific activities.

The WAS SC will also respond to specific requests from the Executive Committee and make recommendations to the Advisory Committee, as appropriate. Also, upon request, the SC will provide advice and assistance to researchers and authors, both within and outside of WAS.

Chair: Pedro Nobre
 

A Statutory Committee

SEC Committee asks WAS members to submit any information of the barriers in 2014 to implement sexuality education programs in different countries around the world

The Sexuality Education Committee (SEC) is a statutory committee of the World Association for Sexual Health. The purpose of this committee is to provide information, advice, support and assessments in the area of sexuality education. This committee is also responsible for the Excellence in Education Awards.

Chair of the committee is Osmo Kontula (Finland), and Vice-Chair is Lotta Löfgren-Mårtenson (Sweden). Other members of committee are Roger Ingham (United Kingdom), Bill Taverner (USA), Esther Corona (Mexico), Cristina Tania Fridman (Argentina), and Sharful (Bobby) Islam Khan (Bangladesh).

The Sexuality Education Committee had decided to collect information and later also to survey sexuality education programs and practice around the world. Committee is especially interested in 2014 of the barriers to implement sexuality education programs in different countries around the world. What are the forces which prevent or disturb national or local sexuality education in your country? SEC Committee asks WAS members to submit any information of these barriers to: Osmo.Kontula@vaestoliitto.fi The summary of this information will be later published on the WAS website.

Chair: Osmo Kontula
 

A Statutory Committee

June 2014 edition - Sexual Rights for All

Co-Chairs: Yuko Higashi (Japan) & Tommi Paalanen (Finland)

Tamara Adrian (Venezuela)
Mariela Castro (Cuba)
Eli Coleman (USA)
Faysal El-Kak (Lebanon)
Ingrid Geray (France)
Sharful Islam Khan (Bangladesh)
Ilsa Lottes (USA)
Rafael Mazin (USA)
Xud Zubieta Méndez (Spain)
Emil Man-Lun Ng (Hong Kong)
Aminta Parra (Venezuela)
Maria Perez (Spain)
Marcia Rocha (Brazil)
Marlene Wasserman (South Africa)

WAS has taken a strong stand and reaffirmed its commitment to the worldwide promotion of sexual rights with Esther Corona’s presentation of the newly revised WAS Declaration of Sexual Rights at a session of the UN Commission of Population and Development. In conjunction with that declaration, the Sexual Rights Committee (SRC) has a mandate to monitor infringements of those rights and respond by expressing in a clear voice that such violations will not go unnoticed and can never be tolerated. Our mission is guided by the view that sexual rights are universal and inalienable human rights that belong to every single human being regardless of their attributes, sexual orientation or preferences.

The focus of our attention is primarily directed at government and non-government organizational activities that breach sexual rights as well as human rights that may impact sexual health. Our committee members monitor current events and extensive networks related to our individual fields of study, geographical locations, and professional connections. Following an alert to a violation, the committee works to determine the best course of action that at least includes drafting an official response from WAS, identifying individuals and organizations that should receive this letter, and seeking other means of raising public awareness of the issue. While it’s simply impossible to address every violation of sexual rights, we strive in particular to respond to high impact emergent legislations and laws that allow political leaders and governments to exercise execution, torture, imprisonment, and/or violence on their citizens.

The following represent some of the issues that the SRC has responded to recently.

(For full versions of all of our statements, please visit our WAS website: http://www.worldsexology.org/committees/sexual-rights/statements/)

The SRC’s work extends to other activities such as preparing WAS position statements and providing support for other initiatives that denounce the violation of Sexual Rights in different parts of the world. We issued one position statement in 2012 to clarify that the promotion of ‘traditional values’ should not undermine the rights of the LGBT people. This was done in response to the United Nations Human Rights Council resolution. With recent news related to gender recognition, we are now preparing a position paper on this topic. In April 2014, the Supreme Court of India declared that Transgender people are entitled to the same rights as all other citizens of the nation and can choose to be recognized as a “third gender.” In the same month, the High Court of Australia ruled that a person can be registered as neither female nor male (‘unspecified sex’). We warmly welcome the news about the recent change in laws concerning gender recognition. It is important that the diversity of gender experienced and expressed by individuals is officially recognized.

In each letter, correspondence, and position statement, the SRC and WAS are able to reference the Declaration of Sexual Rights. Based on universal human rights norms, the Declaration guides and strengthens the work of our committee. We hope that each member of WAS can make their own efforts to share and promote the Declaration of Sexual Rights as we all strive to see its contents become universally accepted.

A Call for Support

The Sexual Rights Committee wishes to extend its reach by setting up five regional workgroups, which would monitor the status of sexual rights and draft statements and propose other activities to promote sexual rights in the region. The workgroups will represent Europe, Africa, South America, North America and Asia (including Australia and Oceania).

If you are interested in joining one of the workgroups and supporting the efforts of the SRC, please contact SRC Co-Chair Tommi Paalanen: tommi.paalanen@iki.fi

Co-Chairs Yuko Higashi and Tommi Paalanen

GOLD MEDAL COMMITTEE

Chair: Lillemor Rosenqvist (Sweden)
Members 2013-2015
Vice-Chair: Roy Levin (UK)
Reiko Ohkawa (Japan)
Simon Rosser (USA)
Leon Roberto Gindin (Argentina)
Lars-Gösta Dahlöf (Sweden)
 

The Gold Medal Committee was installed after the WAS World Congress in Valencia 1997. Lillemor Rosenqvist was elected Chair of the committee by the WAS Advisory Committee and it was decided that the other members of this committee should be the latest Gold Medal awardees. In July 2009 the WAS Advisory Committee decided that 3 additional persons, each of whom is a member of WAS and has extensive knowledge and experience, should be nominated as members to provide a balance.

The Gold Medal Committee is constituted to review all submissions for the award of the Gold Medal and to make a recommendation to the Advisory Committee on the most worthy, potential recipients. During the biennial congresses, WAS delivers two kinds of awards to recognize excellence and life-work in sexology. The Gold Medal is the most prestigious individual honor of the World Association for Sexual Health. A maximum of five Gold Medals are awarded at the WAS Biennial Congress. At this time, the committee was working on the final stage of choose candidates for the 2015 Gold Medal that will be delivered on the occasion of the next congress in Singapore 2015.

The four persons honored with the WAS most prestigious professional award - for their life-long contribution to the field-. with the 2015 WAS Gold Medal are (in alphabetical order):

The Middle East Sexual Health Committee was established to support the development of sexological associations in the Middle Eastern countries, and to promote sexology, sexual health and sexual rights in the region. Growing in popularity, the committee is recognized as the overarching umbrella organization for professionals of human sexuality in the Middle East.

The committee started with three core members and grew to accommodate fifteen core members, now extending to eight countries within the region. Most of our members are individual members of WAS mainly due to lack of existence of sexological associations within the region. However with the growth of such organizations, future efforts will be made to encourage membership from range of organizations as well.
 

2013-2015
Chair: Dr. Sara Nasserzadeh (Iran/USA)
Dr. Faysal El-Kak (Lebanon)- Vice Chair
Dr. Elham Atalla (Bahrain)
Mr. Qadeer Baig (Pakistan)

Affiliate members
Wafa Alomari (UK/Egypt)
Pierre Assalian (Canada)
Seyed Ali Azin (Iran)
Amini El Khatim (Lebanon)
Amr El Meliegy (Egypt/Saudi Arabia)
Farideh Farahani (Iran)
R. Y. Jalali (Pakistan)
Abbas Nasehi (Iran)
Firrozeh Raisi (Iran)
Dina Seddiqi (Lebanon)
Mehmet Sungur (Turkey)
Rola Yasmin (Lebanon)
 

Dr. Mehmet Sungur, was awarded with the ESSM-EFS award as well as Julia Heiman award at the Jointly organized conference by Sexual Health Institute (CISED) and German Society for Social Scientific Sexuality Research (DGSS) for his contributions to the field of couples and sex therapy.

Dr. Sungur and colleagues organized the 1st joint ESSM-EFS congress in Istanbul between 29 Jan - 1st Feb. Before this event we have also organized the training course for recognition as "psycho-sexologist" by the joint efforts of EFS and ESSM. There were about 2000 attendants in the congress and professionals from different continents attended the training course and the exam following the course. During that congress a gold medal award was given to 3 researchers and clinicians.

Reported by Qadeer Baig (Country representative of WPF-Rutgers in Pakistan):

There has been substantial work on SRHR this year including some new initiatives and some resources developed by the Rutgers WPF which could be accessed online. These resources could be helpful for colleagues who work in the region or with clients from the Middle-East and South Asian cultural background.
 

If you are interested in joining our efforts at the Middle East Sexual Committee at the World Association for Sexual Health please contact us through the contact page of the website with the subject line: MESHC- Dr. Nasserzadeh, and we will be in touch with you shortly.

WORLD SEXUAL HEALTH DAY COMMITTEE

Co-Chairs: Luis Perelman y Nadine Terrein-Roccatti de México Members: Jacqueline Brendler (Brasil),Antón Castellanos-Usigli (México), Cristina Tania Fridman (Argentina), Yuko Higashi, (Japón), Sara Nasserzadeh (EE.UU.), Narayana Reddy (India), Marlene Wasserman (Sudáfrica), Felipe Hurtado (España)

Asesores Honorarios: Esther Corona (México), Rosemary Coates (Australia)

Enlace con EC: María Pérez-Conchillo (España) worldsexualhealthday@gmail.com
 

On September 4th of this year, the World Association for Sexual Health (WAS) will celebrate World Sexual Health Day 2014, with the theme: Sexual health: the wellbeing of sexuality"

Since 2010, WAS called on its member organizations to celebrate, World Sexual Health Day in an effort to promote a greater social awareness on sexual health across the globe. In four years, more than 35 countries have participated in this relatively new global celebration, which has relied on volunteer work.

2014 has been the year to review and define the UN Millennium Goals, where the concept of sexual health has been traditionally included as part of reproductive health. This is why we need a specific and comprehensive understanding of sexual health in light of the Working Definition published by WHO and the updated Sexual Rights Declaration recently approved by WAS.(http://www.who.int/reproductivehealth/publications/sexual_health/defining_sexual_health.pdf)

This September 4th, WAS invites people from all over the world to learn about their own sexual health as the wellbeing of sexuality, to evaluate it and ponder how to improve it based on human rights and science.

World Sexual Health Day activities are organized in different formats around the world which do not require big expenses like conferences, workshops, public activities, art exhibitions, press conferences, social media and many more.

We invite you to like and follow the Global Facebook Page of World Sexual Health Day: www.facebook.com/4sept and twitter @sexualhealthday

For information about WSHD activities in your country, please contact:

PLEASE INSERT YOUR OWN NAMES AND CONTACT INFORMATION.
 

*The World Association for Sexual Health (WAS—formerly the World Association for Sexology) was founded in 1978 by a multidisciplinary, worldwide group of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) with the aim of promoting sexual health and sexual rights throughout the world based on scientifically-based multidisciplinary sexuality research, sexuality education, health promotion, and behavioral and clinical sexology. WAS promotes sexual health and sexual rights and encourages the participation of all people, without discrimination or prejudice.

"La salud sexual: el bienestar de la sexualidad"

See “ point 8” from this newsletter all complete WSHD guides lines in English and Spanish.

 

The WAS Federations with their regional bi-annual congresses take place in the alternating years. Here were and are the dates for the Regional Congresses in 2014.

29 Jan-1 Feb: EFS Istanbul, Turkey

3 -7 Feb: AFSHR Yaoundé, Cameroun

10-14 Sept: FLASSES Punta Cana, DDominican Rep

22-25 Oct: AOFS Brisbane, Australia
 

EFS - European Federation of Sexology – 2014
EFS – Congress and ESSM - Congress
29Jan.- 1Feb. Turkey

“I am very proud to present you the results of the last 14th Congress of the EUROPEAN FEDERATION of SEXOLOGY joint by the 16th Congress of the EUROPEAN SOCIETY FOR SEXUAL MEDICINE held in Istanbul from January 29th to the 1st of February 2014. Thanks also to both EFS and ESSM Local Hosts, respectively Mehmet Sungur and Ate Kadioglu this event attracted more than 1.500 participants, amazingly coming from all over the world (73 different countries were represented). It was the first ever event of this scale at which we were able to actively engage International medical and psychological societies together.

An amazing innovation in training took place on January 28th,: : the first examination for psychologist qualification! This examination of Clinical-sexology – and its pre-course - is under the auspices of both EFS and ESSM as well as the new Syllabus of Clinical Sexology written for this purpose. More than 56 participants from 15 countries attended the exam. In the same day, the Second Qualification Examination for medical doctors took place on January 28th, with more than 128 participants from 38 countries.

The main objective of the Conference was to illustrate the complexity of Sexology, a portrait with biological, psychological and sociological aspects. To that effect, the Conference sessions were designed to provide participants with a pretty good understanding of EFS-ESSM activities, the implementation of their ambitious agendas, their sensibility to take into consideration research, intervention and education.

Concerning this latter issue I would like to mention the work of the EFS Young Committee, directly dedicated to build and carry-on remarkable International research projects.

EFS has awarded Professors Caruso, Sungur, Giuliano and Crowe for their outstanding careers in the field of Sexology with our Gold Medal.

Moreover we have to praise Dr. Stenqvist (Sweden) for the Best Oral Presentation and Dr. de Maio (Italy) for the Best Poster Presentation.

Indeed, the four days were buzzing with lively discussion and debate – not only during the interactive sessions: a hard joint work on the rich program has been done by the two wonderful presidents of our Scientific Committees:
 

professors Caruso (EFS) and Salonia (ESSM) always in contact with the two Presidents of the Congress, me and Professor Porst .

The EFS and the ESSM are particularly grateful for the support they received for this event from sponsors and the splendid location that hosted our Conference. Furthermore the EFS-ESSM wishes to thank sincerely all contributors and participants of this event for making it a very informative and enjoyable four days.

And last, but certainly not least, I would like to thank warmly everybody who gave me again his or her trust and respect carrying on loving Sexology and supported me as President of the European Federation for the next two years”.

“The congress took place in Istanbul, Turkey, from 29 January to 1 February, in Lütfi Kirdar (ICEC) Convention Center, being an innovative event because for the first time EFS joined ESSM to a congress, thus uniting the two most powerful entities that deal with sexuality in Europe. The conference leaders were the president of EFS Chiara Simonelli, president Hartmut Porst (ESSM), the two presidents of the Congress in 2014, Mehmet Sungur (EFS) and Ates Kadioglu (ESSM), plus the contribution of the two leaders of scientific committees Salvo Caruso (EFS) and Andrea Salonia (ESSM).

The junction of ESSM & EFS I thought have been beneficial to members of the two institutions, because despite dealing with sexuality, the EFS has a multidisciplinary focus and ESSM is more focused on the organic aspects of medical science, providing opportunities in Istanbul, its members broader updates .

There was prize giving "Career Award" and "Award of Excellence" as well as ESSM best presentations (in five categories), the EFS & ESSM for posters in 3 categories (F1000 poster prizes) besides these four Gold medals (EFS) spoke for 30 minutes during the congress.

The official language is English although it has happened "national symposium" in Turkish, Spanish, Portuguese, but also in German, organized by members of Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Besides the numerous themes addressing sexuality in all fields, by researchers of international renown, there were some symposia sponsored by the pharmaceutical industry. The theme was very broad and diverse as one would expect from an event with over 1500 participants.

The 596 abstracts approved by the scientific committees of the entities were high level of quality and were published in J Sex Med. Abstracts sent to the ESSM were published until page 81, page summaries 8-13 belonged to combined activity of ESSM & EFS after page 82 to 108 take place approved by the EFS.

The ESSM held a pre-meeting the “Master Course on The ABC of Sexual Medicine " and there was a video course during the congress. There was possibility of performing medical tests aiming receive the ESSM certification (which is valid in the European Union of Medical Specialties - UEMS ) and the first test happened to psychologist who wished to receive EFS & ESSM Certified Psycho - Sexologist ( ECPS ), which helped attract delegates to Istanbul.

See friends and have a good time with them was possible in the opening cocktail, the coffee breaks and lunch during the three day event. Istanbul as host city of the event gave everyone also great cultural and fun moments. My thanks to all colleagues who worked on this wonderful event”.

Warmly,

Dr. ANTONIO CASAUBON, FLASSES’ PRESIDENT (SPAIN) Dr. RUBEN HERNANDEZ SERRANO (VENEZUELA)
Dr. FERNANDO BIANCO COLMENARES (VENEZUELA) Dr. LEON ROBERTO GINDIN (ARGENTINA)
Dra. CRISTINA TANIA FRIDMAN (ARGENTINA)
Dr. ANTONIO PACHECO PALHA (PORTUGAL)
Dra. MARIA PEREZ CONCHILLO (SPAIN)
Dra. TERESITA BLANCO (MONTEVIDEO)
Dr. RICARDO CAVALCANTI (BRAZIL)
Dr. JOSE R. PANDO (PUERTO RICO)
Dr. FELIPE HURTADO MURILLO (SPAIN)
Dr. ALVARO SKUPIN (USA)
Dra. NANCY ALVAREZ (USA, R.D.)
Dr. RODOLFO RODRIGUEZ CASTELLO (ECUADOR)
Dra. MARIA DE LOS ANGELES NUÑEZ (ECUADOR)
Dr. ALEXIS VASQUEZ (VENEZUELA)
Dra. MIRTHA GRANERO (ARGENTINA)
Dra. ELENA SEPULVEDA (CHILE)
Dra. RAQUEL VERASCHIN (BRASIL)
Dra. LUZ JAIME (VENEZUELA)
Dra. MIRTHA GRANERO (ARGENTINA)
Dr. MANUEL LUCAS MATHEUS (SPAIN)
 

Rafael García Alvarez; Presidente CLASES 2014  FLASSES
www.flasses.net
 

More information: Instituto de Sexualidad Humana,
Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo (UASD)
Santo Domingo, República Dominicana: clases2014gmail.com
www.clases2014.com

Memoria de FLASSES para WAS

“El 31 de Enero vio la luz el tercer número de la Revista científica Desexologia.com publicada en España. Dicha revista que nació con la idea de ser un medio de difusión de la actividad creativa, investigadora, de opinión y debate, de todo el quehacer profesional que desde diferentes disciplinas y puntos de actividad profesional, aglutine el desarrollo científico de la Sexología en español. Los artículos de este número son:

“DSM 5 un análisis crítico desde la Sexología”. Rubén Hernández Serrano Venezuela).

“Tratamiento del caso de un varón con adicción al sexo”. Alonso/ Gamero y Torres (España).

“Las burras en la iniciación sexual de los jóvenes caribeños. Un breve apunte antropológico. Z. Benavides (Colombia).

“Grooming y abuso sexual en menores”. I. Dumitrache (Rumanía).

Más de 200 médicos de toda España participaron los días 28 y 29 de marzo en Santander en el III Foro de la Salud Sexual “Aprendizaje y dinamismo”, organizado por el Centro Interdisciplinar de Psicología y Salud de Santander (CIPSA), en colaboración con el Ayuntamiento. Dicho foro, avalado por la Academia Española de Sexología y Medicina Sexual, SEMERGEN y la Federación Latinoamericana de Sociedades de Sexología y Educación Sexual (FLASSES), han ido especialmente dirigidas a médicos de atención primaria, desde la consideración de la importancia del bienestar de los individuos en la esfera sexual, uno de los objetivos principales del Foro ha sido el de dotar a los profesionales médicos de formación y unas habilidades y actitudes que favorezcan el abordaje de los problemas sexuales de sus pacientes en la consulta de Atención Primaria.

Desde el mes de marzo de 2014, la Asociación de Especialistas en Sexología (AES) y la Academia Española de Sexología y Medicina Sexual (AESMES), bajo la supervisión del Programa Modular de Formación en Salud Sexual de la Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (UNED) y la Federación Española de Sociedades de Sexología (FESS), están llevando a cabo en España el estudio EURO-SEXO, sobre la práctica de la sexología.

EURO-SEXO es un estudio internacional de colaboración sobre la Profesión del Sexólogo en Europa, que ya ha sido realizado en varios países (Dinamarca, Francia, Inglaterra, Italia, Noruega, Suecia y Portugal), cuyo protocolo y cuestionario fueron desarrollados por el Professor Alain Giami del Institut de la Santé et de la Recherche Medicale (INSERM-France). La traducción y adaptación del cuestionario original en español ha sido realizada conjuntamente por la Asociación de Especialistas en Sexología (AES), la Academia Española de Sexología y Medicina Sexual (AESMES), Programa Modular de Formación en Salud Sexual de la Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (UNED) y la Federación Española de Sociedades de Sexología (FESS).

Este cuestionario anónimo, tiene como finalidad el poder saber 1) la formación profesional inicial en sexología / sexualidad humana, 2) la práctica profesional en sexología / sexualidad humana, 3) la opinión que tienen sobre sexología / sexualidad humana, 4) datos socio-demográficos.

El 4 de Mayo del 2009, en reunión del comité ejecutivo de la FLASSES presidido por Rubén Hernández, se constituyó el Comité de Sexólogos Jóvenes FLASSES (CSJF), quedando conformado en aquel entonces por doce (12) jóvenes de los diferentes países de Latinoamérica:

PS. OSCAR SAPENA PASTOR (H) (PARAGUAY), LCDO. ARIEL GONZALEZ GALEANO (PARAGUAY), LCDO EZEQUIEL LOPEZ PERALTA (ARGENTINA) DRA. SILVINA VALENTE (ARGENTINA), DRA ALICIA GARZON (ECUADOR), DR. SANTIAGO CEDRES SOLIS (URUGUAY), DRA. CAROLINA LONDOÑO GUTIERREZ. (COLOMBIA), LCDA. ALEJANDRA QUINTEROS (COLOMBIA), LCDA RAQUEL VARASCHIN (BRASIL), DRA. MAGDALENA RIVERA (CHILE), BRIGITE BAENA (VENEZUELA) Y EL DR. CARLOS COTIZ (VENEZUELA).

JOSE BUSTAMANTE BELLMUNT (ESPAÑA), YASMANY DIAZ (CUBA), MAURICIO LOPEZ (CHILE), FABIOLA JARAMILLO (CHILE), SILVIA GUEVARA (ECUADOR), PATRICIA CORREA (ECUADOR), FERNANDO ROSERO (COLOMBIA), MARIA ROSA APPLEYARD (PARAGUAY), ERIKA PINZON (COLOMBIA), ADRIANA QUINTERO (COLOMBIA).

Por otro lado, y según establece la normativa del reglamento y al superar el límite de edad para seguir perteneciendo al CSJF, egresan del mismo: EZEQUIEL LOPEZ PERALTA, RAQUEL VARASCHIN, SANTIAGO CEDRES, BRIGITTE BAENA Y SILVINA VALENTE, y han pasado a ser miembros asesores del CJSF, por un periodo de 2 años, para finalmente y transcurrido ese tiempo dejar la membresía.

La Asociación Nacional de Sexología de Colombia ASANSEX estrena Junta Directiva cuya toma de posesión tuvo lugar el día 9 de Abril. El nuevo presidente Dr. Carlos Mario Sánchez V. planteó como declaración de principios de la nueva andadura:

“Desde ASANSEX, trabajaremos de manera decidida en la proyección de la episteme sexológica y la educación de las sexualidades en nuestro país. La Asociación cuenta con excelentes profesionales para lograr este cometido. Proyección geográfica, divulgación y producción académica son algunos de los principales objetivos que nos ocuparán este período.”

El programa científico del XVII Congreso Latinoamericano de Sexología y Educación Sexual (XVII CLASES) a celebrar del 10 al 14 de septiembre de 2014, bajo el lema “Sexualidad, Familia y Escuela: Claves del Desarrollo Humano” se va consolidando con la confirmación como participantes de prestigiosos profesionales como: ADRIÁN SAPETTI, ELENA SEPÚLVEDA, CRISTINA TANIA FRIDMAN, MARÍA PÉREZ CONCHILLO, TERESITA BLANCO, ESTHER CORONA, ROBERTO GINDIN, JAQUELINE BRENDLER, RICARDO CAVALCANTI, SILVIA CAVALCANTI, FERNANDO BIANCO, RUBÉN HERNÁNDEZ SERRANO, FELIPE HURTADO MURILLO…Clases2014.com

Bajo la coordinación de Teresita Blanco ya están armados los cursos de FLASSES a desarrollar en el CLASES 2014. En dichos cursos se tratarán los siguientes temas: Sexualidad de l@s adult@s mayores.-Cómo brindar Educación Sexual en las distintas etapas de la vida. Actualización en sexualidad femenina.

Los ponentes de dichos Cursos FLASSES serán:

Mª DE LOS ANGELES NUÑEZ, MIRTA GRANERO, RICARDO CAVALCANTI, RODOLFO RODRÍGUEZ CASTELO, FERNANDO BIANCO, RUBÉN HERNÁNDEZ SERRANO, TERESITA BLANCO, ESTHER CORONA Y LEÓN ROBERTO GINDIN.

In English

EURO-SEX is an international collaborative study on the Occupation Sexologist in Europe, which has already been done in several countries (Denmark, France, England, Italy, Norway, Sweden and Portugal), the protocol and questionnaire were developed by Professor Alain Giami from the Institut de la Santé et de la Recherche Medicale (INSERM, France).

The translation and adaptation of the original in Spanish has been conducted jointly by the Association of Sexology (AES), the Spanish Academy of Sexology and Sexual Medicine (AESMES) Modular Training Program in Sexual Health National University of Education Distance (UNED) and the Spanish Federation of Sexology (FESS). This anonymous questionnaire aims to find the 1) initial vocational training in sexology / human sexuality, 2) professional practice in sexology / Human Sexuality, 3) the opinion they have on sexology / Human Sexuality, 4) socio- demographic. On May 4, 2009, at a meeting of the executive committee headed by Rubén Hernández FLASSES the Youth Committee FLASSES Sexologists (CSJF), being formed at that time by twelve (12) Young of the different countries of Latin America was established:

PS. OSCAR SAPENA PASTOR (H) (PARAGUAY), LCDO. ARIEL GONZALEZ GALEANO (PARAGUAY), LCDO EZEQUIEL LOPEZ PERALTA (ARGENTINA) DRA. SILVINA VALENTE (ARGENTINA), DRA ALICIA GARZON (ECUADOR), DR. SANTIAGO CEDRES SOLIS (URUGUAY), DRA. CAROLINA LONDOÑO GUTIERREZ. (COLOMBIA), LCDA. ALEJANDRA QUINTEROS (COLOMBIA), LCDA RAQUEL VARASCHIN (BRASIL), DRA. MAGDALENA RIVERA (CHILE), BRIGITE BAENA (VENEZUELA) Y EL DR. CARLOS COTIZ (VENEZUELA).

The passage of time and the growth of the committee demanded the inclusion of new members, so in April of 2013, the application period @ s To Tree opens the Committee members, this process ends in March 2014, with the acceptance FLASSES CE, ten new entrants: JOSE BUSTAMANTE BELLMUNT (ESPAÑA), YASMANY DIAZ (CUBA), MAURICIO LOPEZ (CHILE), FABIOLA JARAMILLO (CHILE), SILVIA GUEVARA (ECUADOR), PATRICIA CORREA (ECUADOR), FERNANDO ROSERO (COLOMBIA), MARIA ROSA APPLEYARD (PARAGUAY), ERIKA PINZON (COLOMBIA), ADRIANA QUINTERO (COLOMBIA).

On the other hand, and as established by the rules of regulation and beat the age limit to continue to belong to CSJF, graduating the same: EZEQUIEL LOPEZ PERALTA, RAQUEL VARASCHIN, SANTIAGO CEDRES, BRIGITTE BAENA AND SILVINA VALENTE, and have become members CJSF advisers, for a period of 2 years, after that time and finally let the membership. The National Association for Sexology Colombia ASANSEX premieres Board whose inauguration took place on April 9. The new president Dr. Carlos Mario Sánchez V. raised as a statement of principles of the new venture: "From ASANSEX, work decisively in projecting sexological episteme and sexualities education in our country. The Association has excellent professionals to achieve this task. Geographic projection, outreach and academic production are some of the main objectives that will occupy us this time. " The scientific program of the XVII Latin American Congress of Sexology and Sexual Education (XVII CLASS) to be held from 10 to 14 September 2014 under the theme "Sexuality, Family and School: Highlights of Human Development" is being consolidated with confirmation as participants prestigious professionals as: ADRIAN SAPETTI, ELENA SEPULVEDA CRISTINA TANIA FRIDMAN, MARÍA PEREZ CONCHILLO , TERESITA BLANCO, ESTHER CORONA, LEÓN ROBERTO GINDIN, JAQUELINE BRENDLER, RICARDO CAVALCANTI, SILVIA CAVALCANTI, FERNANDO BIANCO, RUBÉN HERNÁNDEZ SERRANO, FELIPE HURTADO MURILLO ... Clases2014. Com

Coordinated by Teresita Blanco already armed FLASSES courses to develop in the 2014 CLASSES In these courses the following topics.: - Sexuality l @ s @ s older adult.How to provide sex education at different stages of life.- Updated on female sexuality. The speakers of these courses will FLASSES: MARIA DE LOS ANGELES NUÑEZ, MIRTA GRANERO, RICARDO CAVALCANTI, RODOLFO RODRIGUEZ CASTELO, FERNANDO BIANCO, RUBÉN HERNÁNDEZ SERRANO, TERESITA BLANCO, ESTHER CORONA-LEON ROBERTO GINDIN.

AOFS 2014

It is a great personal pleasure to invite you and to welcome you to Australia to the 13th Asia-Oceania Federation of Sexology congress hosted by the Society of Australian Sexologists.

Sexual Health is crucial to the well-being of the population of the world and ‘From Podium to Practice’ will extend our delivery of excellence in the clinical setting. The theme has been selected by the local organising committee and resonates as crucial for so many of us as we know what is sometimes researched, shared and accepted cannot always make it into practice for any number of reasons.

Whatever your discipline and your understanding of the theme for 2014, I am certain that there will be much in common with fellow delegates and that this congress will be a prodigious opportunity to share our experiences with generosity and through collegial interaction. I hope that during these most difficult times of allocation of finances and time for education that you will find the space and resources to be able to participate in one of the most important sexual health meetings in 2014. The sharing of good clinical practice is critical for professional, ethical and beneficial practice.

Please join your colleagues in Brisbane and participate at the AOFS conference in October 2014.

With warm regards

Kevan Wylie

President of the WAS

Welcome Message from Conference President

President’s welcome letter for 13 AOFS Conference, Brisbane 22-25 October 2014

Dear Colleagues and Friends,

As President of the 13th Asia-Oceania Federation for Sexology Conference, Brisbane, Australia 22-25 October 2014, it is both a pleasure and an honor to invite you to join me in participating in this multi-disciplinary regional conference for Clinicians, Family Physicians, Specialists, Practice Nurses Psychologists, Counsellors, Physiotherapists, Sex Therapists, Couples Therapists and students in this field of sexology. The Australian Society of Sexologists is proud to be the national organization representing individuals working in this field in Australia and to have been given the privilege of hosting this conference.

As President of this Conference, I endorsed the theme “From Podium to Practice” to reflect a priority that as a medically trained therapist I felt has been missing from some of our conferences. I believe the clinical application of theories and ideas needs to be presented, discussed and tested for valence. The medical treatments we use are tested and discussed but not so much the psycho-social-relational strategies we apply to help our patients/clients. This Conference will focus on the traditional inclusions such as recent research developments and the advances in the clinical treatment and understanding of sexual problems for males, females and couples, both heterosexual and non - heterosexual. However, it will also include case studies and novel personal strategies to open up the ‘practice’ aspects of our work. The aim is to assist professionals both new and experienced to develop their practice with the benefit of shared evidence based strategies and methods. This area will be further enriched by the inclusion of Eastern and Western therapies so that we can achieve the best outcomes possible for our patients/clients.

The Conference organizing committee is comprised of academics, clinicians and therapists from Australia and the Asia Oceania region. We cannot, however achieve our objectives and goals of a valuable learning and networking experience alone; we need our colleagues and supporters from the Asia Oceania region and all over the world, to join us to make this 13th AOFS Conference outstanding.

This conference may meet the CPD point’s criteria for your accrediting body; please check with your relevant body. The conference will be accredited for Society of Australian Sexologists members.

Brisbane is a thriving city of 2 million people, situated on a river, in tropical Queensland known for its warm relaxed attitude. It attracts people from a variety of cultures, backgrounds, and ideologies, which leads to a constant exchange of ideas. October is a perfect time to hold an event there. Brisbane is very convenient for access from anywhere in Australia and also anywhere in Asia, with many direct flights. Further travel within Australia either before or after the Conference is very convenient and Australia is a wonderful country to explore.

The Conference venue is the Mercure Hotel/Conference Centre situated in the heart of Brisbane, with easy access to all attractions. The venue is an intimate space that ensures we will be together for maximum networking and convenience. There is a large range of accommodation options in close proximity to the venue.

I look forward to seeing you in Brisbane, Australia, 22-25 October, 2014 as a registrant, a presenter of a poster, a proffered paper or as part of a symposium or plenary session.

With warm regards

Dr Margaret Redelman
 

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

Welcome Message from the Chair Society of Australian Sexologists

Dear Colleagues in Australia, the Asia Oceania Region and the broader sexology community,

On behalf of the Society of Australian Sexologists, it gives me great pleasure to invite you to attend the 13th Asia Oceania Federation of Sexology (AOFS) Conference in beautiful Brisbane, Australia from the 22-25 October 2014. We are planning a professionally enriching programme to meet the professional needs of the multidisciplinary community that is involved in sexology.

The Society of Australian Sexologists (SAS), previously known as ASSERT National, is Australia’s national, multi-disciplinary organization, representing Australian professionals working in the field of sexology. The ‘Society’ follows a unified constitution, code of professional conduct and most importantly accreditation, with branches in every state and territory in Australia. The website for SAS is www.australiansexologists.org.au .

All our members and the organizing committee for the AOFS conference are fully committed to putting together a well-organized conference highlighting the most up-to-date research information and clinical applications.

As a ‘Brisbanite’ and Chair of SAS, I look forward to welcoming you to Brisbane, Queensland - Australia’s Sunshine State. Brisbane is a fabulous city, situated on the banks of the wide meandering Brisbane River. Brisbane prides itself on its friendly, casual out door life style, great food and culture. Brisbane also allows for easy access to the beautiful Morton Bay, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Northern Queensland and other great Australian destinations.

Warm regards
Jocelyn Klug
Chair Society of Australian Sexologists
aofsasia@gmail.com - www.aofs-asia.org
 

The board of directors of the North American Federation of Sexuality Organizations (NAFSO) had its first official reorganizational board meeting during the 2013 meeting of the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality (SSSS). Currently, the board is working to revise the federation’s bylaws and expects to ratify the new bylaws at a meeting in November 2014. The federation is expanding its membership and working to reconstitute itself in order to increase collaboration between the region’s organizations and to strengthen its roles within WAS.

Update from the Youth Initiative Committee

For more information about the Youth Initiative Committee activities, please write to:
Antón Castellanos Usigli (Chair): ac3638@columbia.edu
Stefano Eleuteri (Vice-Chair): stefano.eleuteri@gmail.com
 

Sexology / Sexual Health meetings

Europe
www.europeansexology.com

Africa

AFSHR -
www.africasexuality.org

Latin America
17th CLASES meeting
10-14 September, 2014
Punta Cana, Dominicana Republique
www.clases2014.com

Asia-Oceania
13th AOFS Congress 22-25 October, 2014
Brisbane, Australia
www.aofs-asia.org

World
22nd Congress of the World Association for Sexual Health
July 22 – 28, 2015
Singapore
www.worldsexology.org

Sexual Medicine Meetings

Asian-Pacific 15th APSSM meeting
Date: not yet known Venue: (probably) Beijing, China

World
16th World Meeting on Sexual Medicine
8-12 October, 2014
Sao Paulo, Brazil
www.issm.info 

Compact - timetable

2014

4th Consulta Internacional Medicina Sexual June 19-21 Madrid

36 Annual Guelph Sexuality Conferences, 19-20 June 2014. Canada

International Academy of Sex Research. The 2014 Annual Meeting- June 25-28 Dubrovnik, Croatia, 2014

SSR 47th Annual Meeting—Fertility: A Global Challenge July 19–23, 2014—Grand Rapids, Michigan

AIDS 2014: 20th International AIDS Conference July 20–25, 2014—Melbourne, Australia

American Urogynecologic Society 35th Annual Scientific Meeting, July 22–27, 2014—Washington DC

American Sociological Association 2015 Annual Meeting, August 16–19, 2014—San Francisco, California

World Sexual Health Day - September 4th - WAS- the entire world

ICOG 2014: International Conference on Obstetrics and Gynecology, September 4–5, 2014—London, United Kingdom

International Anatolian Congress on Sexual Health and disorders-September 11- 14 -Istanbul- Turkey. 2014

XVI World Congress of Psychiatry, which will be held in Madrid, Spain, on September 14-18, 2014.

16th World Meeting on Sexual Medicine 2014, Sao Paulo, 8-12 October, 2014, Brazil.

The 2014 Australasian Sexual Health Conference, 9-11 October, Sydney

North American Forum on Family Planning October 10–13, 2014—Miami, Florida

II Congreso Latinoamericano de Células Madre – October 16-19 2014- Punta Cana; R. Dominicana.

XII Congreso de Sexología y VI Encuentro Iberoamericano de Profesiones de la Sexología, FESS; November 14 - 16 Córdoba, España

“We are pleased to present the second WAS´s Newsletter (dated June 2014) - under the auspices of the new WAS Advisory and Executive Committee (2013-2017).

The Media Committee has a new team. Cristina Tania Fridman (Argentina) and Alain Giami (France) are the Co - Chairs. The Media Committee also includes Rubén Hernandez Serrano (Venezuela) and Marlene Wasserman (South Africa) are regular partners on this committee as well as Tommi Paalanen (Finland) who is responsible for the website of WAS. Kevan Wylie (President of WAS) is one of the principal collaborators of the Newsletter.

As it was mentioned in the previous newsletter, we believe in the demonstrative power and exchange that provides this communication tool with, the impact of instant communication and globalization. We can learn from each other and seek a constant dialogue around sexuality.

The aim of this newsletter is to contribute to an active communication among members of the World Association for Sexual Health between all WAS Federations and WAS Committees (Statutory and ad hoc) and outside WAS with individuals and partner organizations. The Newsletter will publish news about activities (congresses, declarations, projects, etc…) but also our objective is to develop the WAS newsletter as a forum for discussion about ongoing projects in sexual rights and and world press on sexology around the world.

To help us keep the WAS newsletter updated, we ask you to send us any news from your regions or associations to be reviewed for inclusion in the future Newsletters. WAS Newsletters are published bi-annually. The next newsletter will be published by December 2014. Final deadline for submission of the materials is November 15th .We look forward to hearing from you.

To read more about the Media Committee and its upcoming activities please visit us at (we will include the media committee page on the website here http://www.worldsexology.org/committees/

This link is yet to be available; it is under construction at the moment. In the meantime, please connect with Cristina Tania Fridman: ctfridman@gmail.com or Alain Giami : alain.giami@inserm.fr. The specific area of the MC within WAS´ website will be automatically updated upon completion.

Best wishes to all

Cristina & Alain

New Publication

Sexual Revolutions

Edited By Gert Hekma and Alain Giami

Palgrave Macmillan, 2014

The sexual revolution of 1960-1980 created a major break in attitudes and practices in Western societies. It created many new freedoms for gay men, youth and women, in terms of sexual imagery, information, and rights. Leftists denounced the revolution's consumerism whilst feminists lamented its continuation of sexism. Conservatives criticised the extreme individualism which it purportedly encouraged and the subsequent loss of traditional values. The contributions chosen by Gert Hekma and Alain Giami offer a critical exploration of these changes in the Western world, as well as in the USSR, engaging with topics such as abortion, contraception, sexuality, pedophilia, pornography, and the law. Surveys from this time suggest a transformation in the practices and attitudes of the general population. A comprehensive analysis of this shift, Sexual Revolutions explores the views of feminists, leftists, liberals, artists, scholars and church leaders. The repercussions of the sexual revolution went beyond sexuality. It was a Gesamtkunstwerk that coincided with major social changes in issues such as religiosity, education, justice, medicine, politics, institutions, and arts, and so this work begins to reveal the many aspects of the sexual revolution magnificent review

Editors : Mireille Bonierbale, Robert Porto, Alain Giami, Marie Hélène Colson

Sexologies is the official journal of the European Federation of Sexology (EFS), published with the scientific cooperation of the Interdisciplinary Post-University Association of Sexology (AIUS) which has gathered French academic teachings of Sexology since 1983. Created in 1992, Sexologies quarterly publishes original, synthetic articles on human sexuality, its dysfunctions and its management. Sexologies offers a large panel of information to all health professionals working in the field of sexuality: anatomophysiological and basic research; psychodynamic, cognitive, behavioral and relational evaluations of sexual difficulties; epidemiological, sociological, forensic data; information on new sexoactive molecules; research on sexual physiology, reports on specialized congresses; press and books reviews; ethical aspects; calendar of major events of sexology around the world. Major international experts in their field joined the editorial committee as « Field Editors », confirming and enhancing the will for scientific excellence of the journal.

"Sexologies" is a unique bi-lingual journal publishing both in French and English on paper and on line included in the Elsevier platform.
 

WAS members are invited to submit papers in English or French version. Recommendations for authors are available on the website of the journal :http://www.elsevier-masson.fr/pathologies/sexologies-revue/zsx/


 

8 - "SEXUAL HEALTH: THE WELLBEING OF SEXUALITY"

This year, we are going back to basics, with our slogan "Sexual Health: the wellbeing of sexuality" we aim to focus on the WAS/WHO working definition of sexual health (2002):

"Sexual health is a state of physical, emotional, mental and social wellbeing in relation to sexuality; it is not merely the absence of disease, dysfunction or infirmity. Sexual health requires a positive and respectful approach to sexuality and sexual relationships, as well as the possibility of having pleasurable and safe sexual experiences, free of coercion, discrimination and violence. For sexual health to be attained and maintained, the sexual rights of all persons must be respected, protected and fulfilled."

In 2010, the World Association for Sexual Health (WAS) called on all their member organizations and all NGOs to celebrate, each September 4th, World Sexual Health Day in an effort to promote a greater social awareness of sexual health across the globe.

The first World Sexual Health Day was introduced with the slogan “Let’s talk about it!” to start breaking fears and taboos surrounding sexuality. The topic of WSHD 2010 was addressed in different forums, many of which were intergenerational discussions.

World Sexual Health Day 2011 focused on youth “Youth’s sexual health: Shared rights and responsibilities”. The topic of WSHD was a consequence of the creation of the WAS Youth Initiative and in the context of the International Year of Youth proclaimed by United Nations. Within WAS, the different members of the Advisory Committee and the Youth Initiative Committee celebrated the day by organizing a wide range of activities in their home countries, from Round Table Discussions to Conferences and Art Exhibitions.

The focus of World Sexual Health Day 2012 was diversity and minorities, “In a diverse world, sexual health for all!” Around the world, activities to commemorate WSHD 2012 made visible the realities of population groups such as: the elderly, transgender people, people living with disabilities, immigrants.

Last years' celebration WSHD 2014, was joyful, we collected lots of pictures from around the world with people taking conscience of their sexual rights “To achieve sexual health, picture yourself owning your sexual rights” aiming to remind us about the fundamental importance that sexual rights have in order to achieve sexual health.

World Sexual Health Day is a relatively new global celebration that functions on a volunteer basis. To date, we have reports that more than 35 countries have participated, including:
- Italy- Sweden- Brazil- Venezuela- Chile- Cuba- Japan- Lebanon- Croatia- Pakistan
- Iran- Australia- Mexico- Austria- Colombia- Puerto Rico- Spain- Argentina- Turkey- Peru
- USA- Macedonia- Nicaragua- Indonesia- Lithuania- El Salvador
Country organizers have taken WSHD activities to schools, media, hospitals, libraries, universities, public squares, art halls, theatre groups, etc. WSHD aims to expand to many different social contexts throughout the imagination of its organizers! WAS wants to ensure that sexual health issues are widely discussed everywhere!

As World Sexual Health Day is a global and volunteer celebration, the possibilities are limitless. You can use the theme of this year’s WSHD and take it to wherever you find suitable, and in the ways that are easier for you. You can organize playful activities that involve everyone, or choose from the ones we are proposing.

 The activity will be to ask people to evaluate their own sexual health, through a simple questionnaire that they will be invited to take their picture with and discuss in the forums. SIECUS has a good item list of sexually responsible adult that we adapted with their authorization. The idea of the questionnaire based on SIECUS list is that each person can make her/his own evaluation of their sexual health in a playful way, we thought that we could print the questionnaire (translated in local languages when needed) in a big banner and give each person a paper printed with the definitions of sexuality and sexual health and the sexual rights on one side and on the other side a space to fill the score and for comments so each one can think

in ways to enhance their sexual health.

The objective is to evaluate our individual and collective sexual health from the definition of sexual health that is not centered on biological problems or diseases.

Life Behaviors of a Sexually Healthy Adult (adapted version we gratefully acknowledge the permission to use and to adapt to SIECUS Sexuality Information and Education Council of the US, to see the full version : http://www.siecus.org/_data/global/images/guidelines.pdf):

• Appreciate one’s own body.• Affirm that human development includes sexual development, which may or may not include reproduction or sexual experience.• Affirm one’s own sexual orientation, gender identity and expression and respect the sexual orientations, gender identity and expression of others.• Develop and maintain meaningful relationships.• Enjoy and express one’s sexuality throughout life.• Enjoy sexual feelings without necessarily acting on them• Discriminate between life-enhancing sexual behaviors and those that are harmful to self and/or others and avoid the harmful ones.• Express one’s sexuality while respecting the rights of others.• Engage in sexual relationships that are consensual, non-exploitative, honest, pleasurable, and protected.• Practice health-promoting behaviors, such as regular check-ups, breast and testicular self-exam, and early identification of potential problems.-• Avoid contracting or transmitting a sexually transmitted disease, including HIV.• Demonstrate respect for people with different sexual values.• Assess the impact of family, cultural, media, and societal messages on one’s thoughts, feelings, values, and behaviors related to sexuality.• Reject stereotypes about the sexuality of different populations.• Know and apply sexual rights, they are fundamental human rights related to sexuality• Educate others about sexuality.

Create and edit a vlog (video blog) a few minutes long ( maximum 3 mns), that gets across our theme.

Linked to this we must create some interaction from the public, that offers them a reward…. for example we invite people to create their own vlog on our specific theme , ask them to send to us and we choose the “best” one — which we send out globally through our Facebook World Sexual Health Day- the Global Page. The vlog can be done in local languages with subtitles if possible.

The video blogger can answer each these questions in one minute each

-Based on the WAS/WHO definition how do you evaluate your sexual health from 1 to 10, 10 being the highest?
- What does it have to do with your general wellbeing?
- Name 3 elements that are fundamental in securing your sexual health
Timeline for your consideration

Month Activities
*By June 15

please inform the organizers of WSHD 2014 if you are willing to undertake the role of Local WSHD Coordinator. Our e-mail is: worldsexualhealthday@gmail.com

May-June 2014
Plan the activity that you would like to carry out in accordance to yourcultural needs, translating all the information you’ll need to spread the idea (such as a press release).

May-June 2014
Select the location(s) to carry out your activity to celebrate WSHD 2014

June 2013-August 2014
Contact all the possible media (magazines-TV-newspapers) in order to start spreading the idea.

July 2013-August 2014
Prepare all the materials and human resources that you'll need such as the banners and posters of the suggested activity or the photographer who would bewilling to take the pictures. Be sure to include the logo and information of WAS everywhere you can, as well as the slogan of WSHD.
Explain to the people who participate, that the most representative pictures will be uploaded to the official WAS Global Facebook page of World Sexual Health Day (https://www.facebook.com/4sept)
Always remember: These are just alternatives…These activities are only proposals… Possibilities to celebrate WSHD are limitless! The activities we suggest do not have to take place in public spaces necessarily. You can promote the idea in more private spaces, such as an office or a classroom. Through social networks, WAS will encourage people to participate individually or as groups in the celebration, giving their ideas an their own evaluations, take pictures of themselves celebrating their own way, in order to put them as their profile picture in Facebook and to upload them to the Global Facebook page of WSHD.
If you have more and different ideas, please let us know! WSHD activities rely on everyone’s creativity! Finally, remember…
• KISS (KEEP IT SMART AND SIMPLE)! Whatever you decide to do, it does not have to implicate big expenses,
it can easily be arranged with a very small amount of money.
• Use the WHO/WAS definitions of sexual health and sexuality to guide everything you decide to do and in all the materials you decide to use! You can download the document through this link:
http://www.who.int/reproductivehealth/publications/sexual_health/ defining_sexual_health.pdf.
Access to the WAS Declaration of Sexual Rights to obtain the name and definitions of all sexual rights: http:// www.worldsexology.org/resources/declaration-of-sexual-rights/
Please be aware that WAS has approved a new sexual rights declaration that is to be announced worldwide in the coming weeks.
Access the guidelines of SIECUS to have the full list of Life Behaviors of a Sexually Healthy Adult
http://www.siecus.org/_data/global/images/guidelines.pdf
• Promote that people from ALL ages can get engaged in the activity you organize. Children, teenagers, adults, seniors, we want all of them participate and evaluate their own sexual health!
September 4 Take all the pictures that you can to document your activity. Upload them to the WSHD global Facebook page as well as the articles that are published about the activity in local media.

Month Activities
• A good strategy of promotion is to try to involve celebrities, government officials and politicians in the activity that you organize.
• Be sure to accurately translate WHO/WAS working definitions of sexuality and sexual health into your own native language as well as the sexual rights
• The core idea behind WSHD is that people have to understand and inform themselves about sexual health! If you carry out the suggested activity, you will see that by evaluating their own sexual health, and taking a picture with it, people can realize what they need to do to attain it. Whatever you decide to do: feel good about it!
 You can use either one of our WSHD logos in your publicity, they will be available in WAS' website www.worldsexualhealth.org
• And… Don’t forget to LIKE and SHARE the official Global WSHD Facebook page:
www.facebook.com/4sept
• You can stay in touch with the WSHD committee trough our email: worldsexualhealthday@gmail.com
Twitter: @SexualHealthday (in English) @DiaSaludSexual (in Spanish)
Upload all the pictures you take to our Facebook page!
Note: all WAS member and non-member organizations and individuals are welcome to participate and organize an event to celebrate WSHD
If you as an individual or your organization are interested in becoming a member of WAS, please contact Dr. Narayana Reddy deganr@gmail.com ; www.worldsexualhealth.org
 

BEST REGARDS,
World Sexual Health Day Committee
Chairs: Luis Perelman and Nadine Terrein-Roccatti from Mexico
Jacqueline Brendler (Brazil),
Antón Castellanos-Usigli (Mexico),
Cristina Tania Fridman (Argentina),
Yuko Higashi, (Japan),
Sara Nasserzadeh (USA),
Narayana Reddy (India),
Marlene Wasserman (South Africa),
Felipe Hurtado (Spain)
Honorary advisors: Esther Corona (Mexico), Rosemary Coates (Australia)
Liaison with EC: María Pérez-Conchillo (Spain)
worldsexualhealthday@gmail.com

En Español

El Día Mundial de la Salud Sexual 2014 se centrará en la definición de la salud sexual y lo que esto significa para todos nosotros

La Celebración de 2014

Este año, nos enfocamos en el concepto básico, con nuestro lema "La salud sexual: el bienestar de la sexualidad".

Buscamos centrarnos en la definición de la salud sexual de la WAS/OMS de 2002

"La salud sexual es un estado de completo bienestar físico, emocional, mental y social en relación con la sexualidad, no es solamente la ausencia de enfermedad, disfunción o malestar. La salud sexual requiere un enfoque positivo y respetuoso hacia la sexualidad y las relaciones sexuales, así como la posibilidad de tener experiencias sexuales placenteras y seguras, libres de coerción, discriminación y violencia. Para que la salud sexual se logre y se mantenga, los derechos sexuales de todas las personas deben ser respetados, protegidos y cumplidos. "

La historia del DMSS

En 2010, la Asociación Mundial para la Salud Sexual (WAS) hizo un llamado a todas sus organizaciones miembros y todas las organizaciones no gubernamentales para celebrar, cada 04 de septiembre, el Día Mundial de la Salud Sexual, en un esfuerzo para promover una mayor conciencia social de la salud sexual en todo el mundo.

El primer Día Mundial de la Salud Sexual fue presentado con el lema "Hablemos de eso" para comenzar a romper miedos y tabúes que rodean la sexualidad. El tema del DMSS 2010 fue abordado en diversos foros en todo el mundo, muchos de ellos fueron discusiones intergeneracionales.

El Día Mundial de la Salud Sexual 2011 se centró en la juventud. "La salud sexual de los jóvenes: derechos y responsabilidades compartidas".

El tema del DMSS fue una consecuencia de la creación de la Iniciativa Juvenil de la WAS y en el contexto del Año Internacional de la Juventud proclamado por las Naciones Unidas

Dentro de la WAS, los diferentes miembros del Comité Asesor y el Comité de Iniciativa Juvenil celebraron el día organizando una amplia gama de actividades en sus países de origen, desde mesas redondas de discusión hasta conferencias y exposiciones de arte.

El tema central del Día Mundial de la Salud Sexual de 2012 fue la diversidad y las minorías, "En un mundo diverso, salud sexual para todos". Alrededor del mundo, las actividades para conmemorar el DMSS 2012 hicieron visibles las realidades de grupos de población, tales como ancianos, personas transgénero, personas que viven con discapacidad e inmigrantes.

La celebración del año pasado DMSS 2013, fue alegre, recogimos muchas fotos de todo el mundo con personas tomando conciencia de sus derechos sexuales. "Para lograr la salud sexual, escoge tus derechos sexuales" con el objetivo de recordarnos la importancia fundamental que los derechos sexuales tienen para alcanzar la salud sexual.

¿Cuántos países han participado en DMSS?

El Día Mundial de la Salud Sexual es una celebración global relativamente nueva que depende del trabajo comprometido y voluntario. Hasta la fecha, tenemos informes de que más de 35 países han participado, entre ellos:

-Italia - Suecia - Brasil - Venezuela - Chile - Cuba - Japón - Líbano - Croacia – Pakistán - Irán - Australia - México - Austria - Colombia - Puerto Rico - España - Argentina - Turquía - Perú - EE.UU. - Macedonia - Nicaragua - Indonesia - Lituania - El Salvador.

Los países organizadores han llevado las actividades del DMSS a las escuelas, medios de comunicación, hospitales, bibliotecas, universidades, plazas públicas, salas de arte, grupos de teatro, etc. .

El DMSS busca expandirse a diferentes contextos sociales a través de la imaginación de sus organizadores. La WAS quiere asegurarse de que las cuestiones de salud sexual sean ampliamente discutidas en todas partes.

Qué puedo hacer para celebrar el Día Mundial de la Salud Sexual de 2014?

Como el Día Mundial de la Salud Sexual es una celebración global y voluntaria, las posibilidades son ilimitadas. Usted puede utilizar el tema de DMSS de este año y utilizarlo como considere adecuado y fácil. Puede organizar actividades lúdicas que involucran a todos, o elegir entre las que proponemos.

Actividades Sugeridas.

A. La actividad será pedir a la gente que evalúe su propia salud sexual, mediante un sencillo cuestionario en el que se les invitará a tomar su foto con el resultado y discutir en los foros.

SIECUS (Consejo de Información y Educación en Sexualidad de los EE.UU) tiene una lista de elementos sobre adultos sexualmente responsables que adaptamos con su autorización.

La idea del cuestionario basado en la lista de SIECUS es que cada persona puede hacer su propia evaluación de su salud sexual de una manera lúdica, pensamos que podríamos imprimir el cuestionario (traducido en los idiomas locales cuando sea necesario) en una gran pancarta y dar a cada persona un papel impreso con las definiciones de la sexualidad, la salud sexual y los derechos sexuales de un lado y del otro lado un espacio para llenar la puntuación y los comentarios. Así cada participante puede pensar en formas de mejorar su salud sexual. El objetivo es evaluar nuestra salud sexual individual y colectiva desde una definición de salud sexual que no se centra en los problemas biológicos o enfermedades.

 Para ver la versión completa por favor vaya a http://www.siecus.org/_data/global/images/guidelines.pdf o en español:

http://www.pasa.cl/wpcontent/uploads/2011/08/Guia_para_una_Ed._Sexual_Integral_para_la_Juventud_Hispanolatina_Grup.pdf

_ Afirmación por el propio cuerpo; afirmación de que el desarrollo humano incluye el desarrollo sexual, el cual puede o no incluir la reproducción o la experiencia sexual genital.• Afirmación de la propia orientación sexual, identidad y expresión de género y respeto a las orientaciones sexuales, identidad y expresión de otros géneros.• Desarrollar y mantener relaciones significativas. • Disfrutar y expresar su sexualidad durante toda la vida. • Disfrute de los sentimientos sexuales sin necesidad de llevarlos a cabo. • Discriminar entre comportamientos sexuales que realzan la vida y los que son perjudiciales para sí mismo y/u otras personas, y evitar estos últimos.• Expresar su sexualidad mientras se respetan los derechos de los demás.• Participar en relaciones sexuales consensuales, libres de explotación, honestas, agradables y protegidas.• Practicar comportamientos que promueven la salud, como chequeos regulares, de mama y testicular, auto-exámenes y la identificación temprana de problemas potenciales.• Evitar contraer o transmitir una enfermedad de transmisión sexual, incluido el VIH.• Demostrar respeto por personas con diferentes valores sexuales.

• Evaluar el impacto de la vida familiar, cultural, de los medios de comunicación y los mensajes sociales en los pensamientos, Sentimientos, valores y comportamientos relacionados con la sexualidad.• Rechazar los estereotipos sobre la sexualidad de diferentes poblaciones.• Conocer y aplicar los derechos sexuales, que son derechos humanos fundamentales relacionados con la sexualidad.

B. Crear y editar un vlog (video blog) de pocos minutos de duración (máximo 3 mns) sobre nuestro tema, Vinculado a esto hay que crear algún tipo de interacción por parte del público, que les ofrezca una recompensa. Por ejemplo, invitar a la gente a crear su propio vlog con nuestro tema especifico, pedirles que nos lo envíen y elegiremos el mejor. - el cual enviamos a nivel mundial a través de nuestro Facebook Global del Día Mundial de la Salud Sexual. El vlog puede hacerse en los idiomas locales con subtítulos si es posible.

El blogger de vídeo puede responder cada una de estas preguntas en un minuto

-Sobre la base de la definición de la WAS / OMS cómo evalúa su salud sexual de 1 a 10, siendo 10 el valor mas alto?

-¿Qué tiene eso que ver con su bienestar general?

-Enuncie 3 elementos que son fundamentales en el logro de su salud sexual

Cronograma para su consideración

Mes/Actividad

Junio 15 Por favor informe a los organizadores del DMSS 2014 si usted está dispuesto a asumir la coordinación del DMSS Local. Nuestro correo electrónico es: worldsexualhealthday@gmail.com Mayo-Junio 2014 Planificar la actividad que desea llevar a cabo de acuerdo a sus necesidades culturales, traduciendo toda la información que necesita para difundir la idea (como un comunicado de prensa).

Mayo-Junio 2014 Seleccione la ubicación (s) para llevar a cabo su actividad para celebrar DMSS 2014

Junio 2013-Agosto 2014 Póngase en contacto con todos los posibles medios de comunicación (revistas-TV-periódicos) con el fin de empezar a difundir la idea.

Julio 2013-Agosto 2014 Prepare todos los materiales y recursos humanos que usted necesita tales como pancartas y carteles de la actividad sugerida o el fotógrafo que estaría dispuesto a tomar las fotos. Asegúrese de incluir el logotipo y la información de WAS cada vez que pueda, así como el lema de DMSS.

Septiembre 4 Tome todas las imágenes que se pueden para documentar su actividad así como todos los articulos publicados sobre la actividad en los medios de comunicación locales y súbalos a la página global de Facebook

Explique a las personas que participan, que las fotografías más representativas serán subidas a la página oficial del Facebook Global del Día Mundial de la Salud Sexual (https://www.facebook.com/4sept)

Recuerde siempre: Estas son sólo alternativas... Estas actividades son sólo propuestas ... Las posibilidades de celebrar el DMSS son ilimitadas! Las actividades que proponemos no tienen que llevarse a cabo en espacios públicos necesariamente. Puede promover la idea en espacios más privados, como una oficina o un aula escolar. A través de las redes sociales, la WAS alentará a personas a participar en la celebración, individualmente o en grupos, aportando sus ideas y sus propias evaluaciones, tomarse fotografías

celebrando a su manera, con la intención de colocarlas como sus fotos de perfil del Facebook y subirlas a la página global de facebook del DMSS.

Si usted tiene más ideas, incluso diferentes, por favor ¡háganoslo saber! ¡Las actividades del DMSS dependen de la creatividad de cada quien!

Finalmente recuerde:

• (Manténgalo listo y simple) lo que decida hacer, no tiene por qué implicar grandes gastos, puede ser una actividad que se lleve a cabo fácilmente con una cantidad muy pequeña de dinero.

• Utilice las definiciones de la salud sexual y la sexualidad de la OMS / WAS para orientar todo lo que decida hacer, y en todos los materiales que decida usar!

Puede descargar el documento a través de este enlace:

http://www.who.int/reproductivehealth/publications/sexual_health/defining_sexual_health.pdf

Acceda a la Declaración de los Derechos Sexuales de la WAS para obtener el nombre y las definiciones de todos los derechos sexuales: http://www.worldsexology.org/resources/declaration-of-sexual-rights/

Tenga en cuenta que la WAS ha aprobado una nueva declaración de derechos sexuales que se anunciará en todo el mundo en las próximas semanas..

Acceda a las guías de la SIECUS para tener la lista completa de los Comportamientos de Vida de un adulto sexualmente sano

http://www.siecus.org/_data/global/images/guidelines.pdfhttp://www.siecus.org/_data/global/images/guidelines.pdf

• Promover que las personas de todas las edades puedan comprometerse a organizar la actividad. Niños, adolescentes, adultos, adultos mayores, queremos que todos ellos participan y evalúan su propia salud sexual!

• Una buena estrategia de promoción es tratar de involucrar a celebridades, funcionarios gubernamentales y los políticos en la actividad que usted organice.

• Asegúrese de traducir con precisión las definiciones de la OMS / WAS sobre la sexualidad y la salud sexual, así como los derechos sexuales a su propia lengua materna,

• La idea central detrás de DMSS es que la gente tiene que comprender e informarse acerca de la salud sexual. Si realiza la actividad sugerida, verá que evaluando la propia salud sexual, y tomando una fotografía con la evaluación, la gente puede darse cuenta de lo que tiene que hacer para alcanzarla. Decida lo que decida hacer, siéntase bien con ello!

• Puede utilizar para su publicidad cualquiera de nuestros logos DMSS que estarán disponibles en el sitio web de la WAS www.worldsexualhealth.org

• Y No olvide dar un click de ME GUSTA y COMPARTIR la página oficial del facebook Global DMSS:

www.facebook.com/4sept

Usted puede mantenerse en contacto con el comité del DMSS a través de nuestros

email: worldsexualhealthday@gmail.com

Twitter: @ SexualHealthday (en Inglés)

@ DiaSaludSexual (en español)

Suba todas las fotos que tome a nuestra página de Facebook!

Nota: todas las organizaciones e individuos miembros y no miembros de WAS son bienvenidos a participar y a organizar un evento para celebrar el DMSS.

Saludos cordiales,
Comité del Día Mundial de la Salud Sexual
Titulares: Luis Perelman y Nadine Terrein-Roccatti de México Jacqueline Brendler (Brasil),
Antón Castellanos-Usigli (México),
Cristina Tania Fridman (Argentina),
Yuko Higashi, (Japón), Sara Nasserzadeh (EE.UU.), Narayana Reddy (India),
Marlene Wasserman (Sudáfrica), Felipe Hurtado (España) Asesores Honorarios: Esther Corona (México), Rosemary Coates (Australia) Enlace con EC: María Pérez-Conchillo (España) worldsexualhealthday@gmail.com

DR EVE: 20 YEARS OF SEXUAL RIGHTS. YEAH RIGHT!

The year was 1994. Out of the ashes of human rights abuse, I naively and unwittingly stepped into a brave new world of South African democracy, called myself Dr Eve, as Marlene Wasserman was just too cumbersome a name for a radio host to have, and waved my rainbow flags. My flags, which I carried fresh from my Doctoral training at the Institute of Advanced Studies in Human Sexuality, in San Francisco, represented equality, non-discrimination, and tolerance for the rainbow diversity of sexual expression of all South Africans.
Sexual rights and sexual health were words and concepts that were yet unknown to me and my countrymen. These concepts had begun creeping into international human rights and reproductiv

In 1994 we South Africans knew little about sex. Consider how hard the Apartheid government worked to keep us sexually ignorant, criminalised and shamed: they created sexual Apartheid acts: the Immorality Act, Prohibition of Mixed Marriages Act and then the Amendment to the Immorality Act.
In addition sex work, known as prostitution, was banned, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) rights non-existent and men having sex with men, called ‘sodomy’, banned and criminalised.
Sexuality education did not exist in schools and the good old NG Kerk was the dominant voice in the bedroom: “thou shalt nots” preached from the pulpit while coloured babies were born to the ‘maid’ in the back yards of nice whites-only suburbs. And backstreet abortions performed routinely.
I was in the right place at the right time: South Africa circa 1994… land of liberation, democracy and, by implication, sexual freedom.
Also land of HIV/Aids. As we gasped with relief that white people were not going to be killed by ‘Die Swart Gevaar’, and we believed that we had turned the corner to embrace the rainbow nation, HIV/Aids hit us in the face.
And because of this I believe my voice was welcomed on radio and in the media. Talking about sexuality under the guise of HIV/Aids felt comfortable and I took the gap.
I was a proud sexual South African.
South Africa’s post-apartheid Constitution was the first in the world to outlaw discrimination based on sexual orientation, and South Africa was the fifth country in the world, and the first in Africa, to legalise same-sex marriage. In 1996 the Termination of Pregnancy Act was passed, marital rape was criminalised, women protected under the Domestic Violence Act 1998 and children given sexual and reproductive rights and protection under the Children’s Act.
Even transgender folk have been recognised in a majorly proactive manner: The Alteration of Sex Description and Sex Status Act allows people to apply to have their sex status altered in the population registry, and consequently to receive identity documents and passports indicating their new sex. The law requires the person to have undergone medical or surgical treatment. Hormone replacement therapy is sufficient and sex reassignment surgery is not required.
And pornography was sold on every street corner!

On radio I met people’s thirst for knowledge. Curiosity about “Am I normal?” was prime. From frequency of masturbation to sexual orientation to fetishes, the queries flooded me.
And that’s where my life took another turn: In 1998 Viagra was launched by Pfizer. And the world woke up with a hard on.
Suddenly it was medically permissible to talk about sexuality with your health care provider... seriously?
An estimated 43 percent of medically healthy women held their hands up and said “I have no sexual desire”, 33 percent of healthy men said “I have an erection problem”, and even more admitted to being dissatisfied with their time of ejaculation, as the pre-orgasmic women wept with shame and relief in the corner… at last. Freud was outed for the sexual fraud he was – I have a clitoris and it needs stimulation in order for me to become orgasmic – forget the vaginal orgasm myth!
As time passed South Africa adjusted to its new coat, and we found that, in fact, the emperor is naked – despite all the progressive laws, we are a violent, infected nation of discriminating people and need to bring in human and sexual rights... pronto!
Our present day sexual rights truths include:
- LGBTI South Africans continue to face considerable challenges, including social stigma, homophobic violence (particularly corrective rape), and high rates of HIV/Aids infection;
- Gender-based violence is concomitant with high rates of HIV/Aids/STIs;
- Rape escalates – or is it the judicial system? Or a president who was acquitted of an alleged rape?;
- Reproductive health is freely available, yet the clinics are filled with healthcare providers who shame and stigmatize young women and do nothing to encourage men to attend;
- Pornography is misunderstood and placed in the hands of the religious and moral brigades; and
- Sexuality education is not comprehensive and the focus is still on fear factors of unintended pregnancies and HIV/Aids.
I ask you: what have been, if any, your sexual rights gains over the last 20 years?

Dr Eve is an internationally accredited couples and sex therapist and has a weekly slot on the Redi Tlhabi show on Talk Radio 702 and 567 CapeTalk.

Dr Eve, as Marlene Wasserman

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES

CENTRO DE PRENSA

La OPS/OMS advierte que están invisibilizados los problemas de salud de las personas LGBT en las Américas

En el marco de Día Internacional contra la Homofobia y la Transfobia, que se observa cada 17 de mayo, urgen a generar información sobre la situación de salud de este grupo y a implementar medidas contra el estigma para garantizar su acceso a los servicios de salud

Washington, DC, 16 de mayo de 2014 (OPS/OMS).- La falta de información sobre la salud de las personas lesbianas, homosexuales, bisexuales y trans (LGBT) en las Américas oculta su situación sanitaria y demora acciones que pueden implementarse para combatir el estigma, mejorar su salud y salvar vidas, afirmaron expertos de la Organización Panamericana de la Salud/Organización Mundial de la Salud (OPS/OMS).

Con el fin de revertir esta situación, la OPS/OMS presta cooperación técnica para apoyar a los países a recopilar y analizar información acerca de las necesidades de salud de esta población, los obstáculos que enfrentan para acceder a la atención y el impacto del estigma sobre su salud y bienestar. La iniciativa responde al compromiso asumido por los ministros de salud de la región quienes en septiembre pasado se comprometieron a promover el acceso igualitario a los servicios de salud.

“Existe una gran ausencia de conocimiento sobre cuáles son los verdaderos problemas de estas colectividades, invisibilizándolas”, consideró el jefe de la unidad de VIH, Hepatitis, Tuberculosis e Infecciones de Transmisión Sexual de la OPS/OMS, Massimo Ghidinelli. “Sabemos que son más vulnerables al VIH, a las hepatitis virales y a otras infecciones de transmisión sexual, así como también víctimas frecuentes de situaciones de violencia extrema, pero esto es sólo la punta del iceberg de los problemas y necesidades de salud que tienen”, afirmó.

El prejuicio y la ignorancia sobre las realidades de las personas LGBT en la sociedad en general y en los sistemas de salud en particular contribuyen también al desconocimiento de sus problemas, estado general y bienestar, y a que no les brinden atención oportuna, efectiva y adecuada. Muchas personas de los colectivos LGBT llegan en forma tardía a los servicios y sus condiciones o problemas de salud son tratadas tardíamente con un pronóstico menos favorable. Por ejemplo, la infección por VIH, que tiene una muy alta prevalencia entre hombres que tienen relaciones con otros hombres (HSH) y mujeres trans en América Latina y el Caribe, es muy a menudo diagnosticada en forma tardía entre personas de estas poblaciones.

Según datos de 2012 del ONUSIDA, la prevalencia de VIH en este grupo en Latinoamérica y el Caribe se estimó en 11,42% mientras que en la población en general no llega al 1%. En muchos países, este porcentaje se ha calculado que podría superar el 15%. No existe información disponible acerca de la situación entre mujeres trans, pero hay indicios de que la prevalencia de infección por VIH podría ser mucho más alta que entre HSH. También según el ONUSIDA, sólo la mitad de los hombres que tienen sexo con hombres y que viven con VIH conocían su estado, lo que significa una pérdida de oportunidad para iniciar el tratamiento en forma temprana y para reducir el riesgo de transmisión a sus parejas sexuales. “Debemos erradicar de los servicios de salud la intolerancia hacia las personas LGBT”, aseveró el asesor principal en VIH, enfermedades de transmisión sexual y hepatitis de la OPS/OMS, Rafael Mazin, y agregó que el maltrato en los servicios es violatorio de las obligaciones de derechos humanos establecidas en tratados universales y regionales. Además, “es inaceptable y no debe ser tolerado”, subrayó.

Muchos de los datos que actualmente se tienen no logran distinguir importantes diferencias entre las condiciones de salud y las necesidades de atención de diferentes grupos al estar integrados dentro de una misma categoría. Por ejemplo, en la categoría “hombres que tienen sexo con hombres” se incluye tanto a los hombres gay, como a aquellos que no tienen una identidad gay (pero que mantienen relaciones con otros hombres) y también a las mujeres trans. En realidad, estos tres grupos tienen diferentes realidades, determinantes de salud, riesgos y necesidades de atención.

Las lesbianas también han quedado invisibilizadas, en parte, porque no han sido tan impactadas por la epidemia de VIH como los gays o las trans. “Se presume que son poblaciones que no tienen riesgo ni vulnerabilidad aumentada, pero sin embargo sufren igualmente el estigma, la discriminación, el maltrato y la violencia como problemas de salud en sí mismos y como factores que las alejan de los servicios de salud, y, por consiguiente, del diagnóstico y tratamiento temprano de sus problemas de salud, como pueden ser el cáncer de mama y los trastornos metabólicos o endocrinos”, señaló Mazin.

El Día Internacional contra la Homofobia y Transfobia se observa cada 17 de mayo desde que en 1990 la OMS eliminó la homosexualidad de la Clasificación Internacional de Enfermedades (CIE). Hasta entonces, el sector de la salud y la sociedad en general consideraban que lesbianas, gays y bisexuales tenían una "enfermedad" o una "dolencia" debido a su orientación sexual.

Lesbianas, gays, bisexuales y trans son sujetos de derechos. Los países que integran la Organización de los Estados Americanos (OEA) reafirmaron su compromiso con la prevención de la violencia, de la discriminación y de la violación a los derechos humanos cometidos contra las personas LGBT por su orientación sexual e identidad de género (resolución 2659, 2012).

Según la Comisión Interamericana de Derechos Humanos (CIDH) de la OEA, entre octubre de 2013 y enero de 2014 al menos 58 mujeres trans, 58 hombres gay, dos lesbianas y un hombre bisexual fueron asesinados en Estados Miembros de la OPS.

Un trato respetuoso y considerado, sumado a un acceso equitativo a la salud, puede contribuir a mejorar la salud y prolongar la esperanza de vida de estas personas.

La OPS trabaja con los países de las Américas para mejorar la salud y la calidad de la vida de su población. Fundada en 1902, es la organización internacional de salud pública más antigua del mundo. Actúa como la oficina regional para las Américas de la OMS y es la agencia especializada en salud del sistema interamericano.

LGBT health problems are “invisible,” says PAHO/WHO
 

- Washington, D.C., 16 May 2014 (PAHO/WHO) — The lack of health information about lesbians, homosexuals, bisexuals and trans (LGBT) people in the Americas has led to a poor understanding of their health needs and is hindering action to counter stigma, improve their health and save lives, said experts from the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO).

To address this situation, PAHO/WHO is providing technical cooperation to support countries’ efforts to collect and analyze information on LGBTs’ health needs, the obstacles they face in accessing health care, and the impact of stigma on their health and well-being. This work is in line with a commitment made by ministers of health from PAHO/WHO member countries last September to promote equitable access to health services for all.

“There is a serious lack of knowledge about these groups’ real health problems—they are basically invisible,” said Massimo Ghidinelli, head of PAHO/WHO’s program on HIV, Hepatitis, Tuberculosis, and Sexually Transmitted Diseases. “We know they are more vulnerable to HIV, viral hepatitis and other sexually transmitted infections and that they are frequently victims of violence. But this is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to their health problems and needs.”

Prejudice and ignorance about LGBT people—in society at large and in health systems in particular—also contribute to the lack of understanding of their problems and prevent them from receiving timely, appropriate and effective health care. Many LGBT people do not seek health care until their problems are at an advanced stage, delaying treatment and resulting in less favorable prognoses. For example, HIV infection—which has high prevalence among men who have sex with men (MSM) and trans women in Latin America and the Caribbean—is often diagnosed late in members of these groups.

According to 2012 estimates by UNAIDS, average HIV prevalence in LGBT people in Latin America and Caribbean is 11.42%, while in the general population it is less than 1%. In some individual countries, HIV prevalence among LGBTs exceeds 15%. Good data are not available on trans women, but some indicators suggest they could have much higher rates of HIV infection than MSM. UNAIDS data also show that half of MSM who are infected with HIV do not know about their status, which keeps them from accessing timely treatment and reducing the risk of transmission to their sexual partners.

“We need to eradicate intolerance toward LGBTs in health care,” said Rafael Mazin, PAHO/WHO senior advisor on HIV, sexually transmitted infections and hepatitis. He added that mistreatment of LGBTs in health services is a violation of human rights that are established in global and regional treaties, such that “it is unacceptable and should not be tolerated.”

Most currently available information about LGBT people fails to distinguish important differences in the health conditions and needs of different groups that are aggregated into one category. For example, the category “men who have sex with men” includes both gay men and those who do not identify as gay (but who have sex with other men) as well as trans women. In fact, these three groups face different health determinants and risks and have different health needs.

Lesbians’ health conditions and needs are also largely “invisible,” in part because this group has not been as affected by the HIV epidemic as gays or trans people.

“Presumably these groups do not face increased risk or vulnerability, but they too are subject to stigma, discrimination, mistreatment and violence both as health problems per se and as factors that keep them from accessing health services,” said Mazin. “As a result, they are less likely to get timely diagnoses and early treatment for their health problems, including conditions such as breast cancer and obesity.”

The International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia has been observed each May 17 since 1990, when WHO eliminated homosexuality as a disorder in the International Classification of Diseases (ICD). Until then, the health sector and society in general considered lesbians, gays and bisexuals as having an “illness” or a “disorder” because of their sexual orientation.

Lesbians, gays, bisexuals and trans people have rights. OAS member countries have confirmed their commitment to preventing violence, discrimination and violation of the human rights of anyone based on their sexual orientation or gender identity (Resolution 2659, 2012).

According to the Inter-American Human Rights Commission of the Organization of American States (OAS), at least 58 trans women, 58 gay men, two lesbians and a bisexual man were murdered in PAHO/WHO Member States between October 2013 and January 2014.

Respectful and considerate treatment and equitable access to health care can contribute to improving the health and extending the lives of LGBT people.

PAHO, founded in 1902, is the oldest international public health organization in the world. It works with its member countries to improve the health and the quality of life of the people of the Americas. It also serves as the Regional Office for the Americas of WHO.

Ingles
http://www.paho.org/hq/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=9591&Itemid=40019&lang=en

Espanol
http://www.paho.org/hq/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=9591&Itemid=40019&lang=es

NEWS

A version of this post appeared on The Week- Feb. 21 2014 10:59 AM

This month, Facebook started allowing users to self-identify as something other than male or female. Good. There may be some cynical ad-targeting motive at work, but as Facebook spokesman Will Hodges explains, "While to many this change may not mean much, for those it affects it means a great deal."

You can make the change in your Facebook settings, and choose who will (and won't) see your new gender nomenclature. You can also change the pronoun Facebook uses when it talks about you to the gender-neutral (but grammatically problematic) "they" (not "xe" or "thon"). The new options are only available in the U.S. so far.

So, if you don't identify as male or female, then what? Well, Facebook offers 56 options. You can use up to 10 of them on your profile. Fifty-six sounds like a lot, but actually many of them are variations on a theme—"cisgender man" and "cisgender male," as well as "cis man" and "cis male." In terms of broad categories, there about a dozen. Here's what they mean:

1. Agender/Neutrois — These terms are used by people who don't identify with any gender at all—they tend to either feel they have no gender or a neutral gender. Some use surgery and/or hormones to make their bodies conform to this gender neutrality.

2. Androgyne/Androgynous — Androgynes have both male and female gender characteristics and identify as a separate, third gender.

3. Bigender — Someone who is bigender identifies as male and female at different times. Whereas an androgyne has a single gender blending male and female, a bigender switches between the two.

4. Cis/Cisgender — Cisgender is essentially the opposite of transgender (cis- being Latin for "on this side of" versus trans-, "on the other side"). People who identify as cisgender are males or females whose gender aligns with their birth sex.

5. Female to Male/FTM — Someone who is transitioning from female to male, either physically (transsexual) or in terms of gender identity.

6. Gender Fluid — Like bigender people, the gender-fluid feel free to express both masculine and feminine characteristics at different times.

7. Gender Nonconforming/Variant — This is a broad category for people who don't act or behave according to the societal expectation for their sex. It includes cross-dressers and tomboys as well as the transgender.

8. Gender Questioning — This category is for people who are still trying to figure out where they fit on the axes of sex and gender.

9. Genderqueer — This is an umbrella term for all nonconforming gender identities. Most of the other identities in this list fall into the genderqueer category.

10. Intersex — This term refers to a person who was born with sexual anatomy, organs, or chromosomes that aren't entirely male or female. Intersex has largely replaced the term "hermaphrodite" for humans.

11. Male to Female/MTF — Someone who is transitioning from male to female, either physically (transsexual) or in terms of gender identity.

12. Neither — You understand this one: "I don't feel like I'm fully male or fully female. 'Nuff said."

13. Non-binary — People who identify as non-binary disregard the idea of a male and female dichotomy, or even a male-to-female continuum with androgyny in the middle. For them, gender is a complex idea that might fit better on a three-dimensional chart, or a multidimensional web.

14. Other — Like "neither," this is pretty self-explanatory. It can cover everything from "I'd prefer not to specify how I don't fit in the gender dichotomy" to "My gender is none of your damn business, Facebook."

15. Pangender — Pangender is similar to androgyny, in that the person identifies as a third gender with some combination of both male and female aspects, but it's a little more fluid. It can also be used as an inclusive term to signify "all genders."

16. Trans/Transgender — Transgender is a broad category that encompasses people who feel their gender is different than their birth sex—sometimes known as gender dysphoria. They may or may not choose to physically transition from their birth sex to their experienced gender.

17. Transsexual — Transsexual refers to transgender people who outwardly identify as their experienced gender rather than their birth sex. Many, but not all, transsexuals are transitioning (or have transitioned) from male to female or female to male through hormone therapy and/or gender reassignment surgery.

18. Two-spirit — This term refers to gender-variant Native Americans. In more than 150 Native American tribes, people with "two spirits"—a term coined in the 1990s to replace the term "berdache"—were part of a widely accepted, often respected, category of gender-ambiguous men and women.

La Nación/ GDA jue feb 13 2014 18:28

Facebook incluirá la opción de identidad "trans" además de "hombre" y "mujer"

Por ahora no está disponible en Uruguay ni Argentina; los usuarios podrán optar por hasta diez definiciones de género distintas.

La red social Facebook dará a sus usuarios la posibilidad de elegir entre hasta diez definiciones de género diferentes, incluyendo "transgénero" (o trans, es decir, aquellas y aquellos cuya expresión o identidad de género difiere de las expectativas convencionales del sexo físico) e " intersex " (personas que poseen caracteres sexuales de ambos sexos; llamados como hermafroditas). Estas opciones se suman a las ya existentes de "femenino" o "masculino".

Por ahora, estas opciones no están disponibles para los usuarios de Uruguay y Argentina, pero cuando aparezca será de la siguiente manera. La opción aparecerá en "Acerca de la página del usuario" y también se tendrá en cuenta en todas las referencias que se haga sobre ese usuario.

Entonces, las personas no sólo se verán como él o ella, sino que también pueden aparecer con un pronombre neutro cuando se los mencione.

Para quienes ya estén usando esta red y sean, por ejemplo, personas trans podrán cambiar su configuración de la página. Allí aparecerá "opciones de género". Junto con hombres y mujeres, se verá una opción "Otro". Cuando el "otro" está seleccionado, aparecerá una lista de diez opciones.

"Si bien para muchos este cambio no puede significar mucho, para aquellos a quienes los afecta significa mucho", dijo el publicista de Facebook Will Hodges. "Vemos esto como una manera más de que podemos hacer de Facebook un lugar donde la gente puede expresar su auténtica identidad".

Según comentó este publicista, Facebook trabajó en estrecha colaboración con grupos de activistas LGBT (lesbianas, gays, bisexuales y trans) para compilar la nueva lista de opciones de identidad de género.

INDIA: D. NARAYANNA REDY ATTACHED SOME RELEVANT OBSERVATIONS OF THE COURT FOR THE NEWSLETTER PERUSAL.

16 de april de 2014 Good News about Transgender Status in India. In a land mark judgement the Supreme court ( Highest Judicial Authority) of India, on Tuesday 15th April recognized Transgender as the Third Gender and ordered them to be included in the in the OBC (Other Backward Class) category for education and jobs. The Supreme court directed the Centre and State governments to take steps to treat them as socially and educationally backward classes of citizens and extend all kinds of reservation in cases of admissions in educational institutions and for Public appointments. The supreme court bench had observed" the decision to grant the third gender OBC status is to assuage the insult and injury suffered by them so far and to speed up the process of securing FULL Human rights of the marginalized community." This judgement came on a petition filed by National Legal Aid Services in 2012 to ensure fundamental rights for Transgenders.

“SUPREME COURT OBSERVATION”
 

The Supreme Court bench said transgender community had an inviolable constitutional right to enjoy freedom of expression (Article 19) and right to live with dignity (Article 21). Besides legal benefits, Tuesday’s Judgment entitles transgenders to other welfare legislations like National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA).

The judgment came on a petition filed by National Legal Aid Services Authority (Nalsa), which through its then secretary Sarat Chandran had approached the court in 2012 to ensure fundamental rights for transgenders. Mata Nasib Kaur Ji Women Welfare Society, working for Kinnars, and transgender Laxmi Narayan Tripathy had joined Nalsa in seeking the rights for hijras.

It traced historical discrimination of the transgender community globally and subsequent attempts by countries to protect their human rights. It said, “Gender identity lies at the core of one’s personal identity, gender expression and presentation and, therefore, it will have to be protected under Article 19 of the Constitution.”
 

In its historic decision to give ‘third gender’ status to eunuchs, the Supreme Court also ruled that Governments cannot deprive a person his/her legal right to acquire preferred gender through sex change operation. A bench of justice K S Radhakrishnan and Justice A K Sikri said transgender community included persons who intended to undergo sex re-assignment surgery to had undergone such surgery to align their biological sex with their gender identity in order to become male or female. It referred to a media report about a person born as a boy but with the characteristics of a girl. The story narrated the trials and tribulations of the boy and the extreme sense of liberation after acquiring the preferred gender through surgery to become a girl.

ICS°R   4TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON THE SURVIVORS OF RAPE

Dates and title of ICSoR 2014 announced:
 

Conference 2014 Theme:
 

The IV ICSoR will contribute to the continuing improvement of the knowledge of the impact of Rape on Survivals and the work of the experts, researches and support systems, following the outcomes of the previous ICSoR conferences.

Moreover the 2014 Conference will introduce the issue related with the fulfilment of the State's due diligence obligations to prevent Human Rights violations, specifically rape; to investigate all crimes of rape and punish the offenders; to protect and to provide remedy and reparation to all victims/survivors.

The objective is to challenge the EU institutions and European policy makers to be engaged in a common European approach, to provide comparable data collection on rape and to implement, effectively, policies measures that really prevent and combat sexual violence and rape. This conference intends to contribute for the change of the actual situation, from an almost invisibility and impunity of rape cases to an informed, empowered and active citizenship through a Human Rights advocacy approach.

This conference will also provide the opportunity to share the expertise of the most prestigious academics, professionals and policymakers and to contribute to a future European common approach on prevention and combat against rape.

The IV ICSoR will be open to all stakeholders and professionals that want to make the difference on this field - researchers, policymakers, legal system professionals (forensics, lawyers, judges, law enforcement officers), professions and voluntaries working in NGO, physicians, psychologists, social workers, educators, and others.

Abstracts are welcoming covering the following issues: Human Rights, data collection, medical, mental health, social, legal, and intervention and support models related with rape.

European data collection on Sexual violence and Rape

Primary Prevention and Education

ATTACHMENT

From the webmaster

The new website of WAS has been there only for half a year, but it has already gathered a good audience, which is interested in browsing news and sexual rights. The site has currently up to 3500 visitors monthly and while USA is the most frequent location of the site user, the top ten includes also India, Brazil, Lebanon and Iran. As the Declaration of Sexual Rights is the most popular of individual pages, it can be seen that there is a growing interest in sexual rights around the world.

The attachment shows where the website visitors are coming from.

Tommi Paalanen

ATTACHMENT
 

2011 - Sun Yuan & Peng Yu
 

Teenager Teenager, 2011 Performance, sofa, stones — 47.2 × 17.8 feet Courtesy of the artists & Galerie Emmanuel Perrotin — Saint Claude, Paris