Societies that prioritize and protect the Sexual Health of their members have the following characteristics:
Political commitment. The State recognizes that Sexual Health is a fundamental human right and takes the responsibility of promoting Sexual Health.
Explicit Policies. Social institutions, including governmental agencies, formulate, develop and implement public policies involving clear and precise directions for protecting and promoting Sexual Health as a fundamental human right.
Legislation. Laws to protect the sexual rights are necessary to promote Sexual Health. Specifically, legislation is necessary that protects the vulnerable from exploitation (e.g., child prostitution), recognizes the rights of all persons to integrity of the body (e.g., protection from genital mutilation), protects the rights of sexual minorities to such fundamental human rights as education, health, and employment (e.g., anti-discrimination legislation), and promotes equity across sexual dimensions (e.g., equal opportunity legislation).
Good Education. A necessary component of a sexually healthy society is universal access to age-appropriate, comprehensive sexuality education across the lifespan.
Sufficient Infrastructure. To ensure persons have access to services, an infrastructure of professionals and paraprofessionals specializing in sexual concerns and problems is necessary. This includes the provision of training programs for professionals to specialize in Sexual Health.
Research. A society committed to the Sexual Health of its members will support adequate and sound research to address the Sexual Health related clinical, educational and public health concerns. This includes both research on emerging concerns (e.g., new infections), and behavioral surveillance to monitor preventive health concerns (e.g., rates of unsafe sex in high-risk subpopulations, rates of sexual violence, prevalence of sexual dysfunctions, etc.).
Adequate Surveillance. Surveillance is necessary to monitor biomedical and behavioral markers of Sexual Health concerns and problems.
Culture. A culture of openness to, and prioritization of, Sexual Health is necessary. Such indicators as the quality of media reporting on Sexual Health concerns, and the degree to which public health messages regarding serious threats to Sexual Health can be openly promoted can measure the culture.
Taken from: Table 5 Characteristics of a Sexually Healthy Society
Promotion of Sexual Health
Recommendations for Action
Proceedings of a Regional Consultation convened by Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) World Health Organization (WHO)
In collaboration with the World Association for Sexology (WAS)
in Antigua Guatemala, Guatemala
May 19-22, 2000
