在第24届世界性健康大会期间，发布了《性愉悦宣言》（墨西哥城，2019年10月15日）https://worldsexualhealth.net/declaration-on-sexual-pleasure/ 强调获得愉悦的可能性的权利，没有歧视、胁迫和暴力的安全性体验 <INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SEXUAL HEALTH A7> 是所有人的性健康和福祉的基本组成部分。

最后，我强调了未来几年可能出现的主要挑战和机遇，反映了提高全球对性健康和福祉益处的认识和接受度的必要性。

In this lecture, I review the history of WAS as it celebrates its 43rd anniversary and then build a bridge to the present day and reflect on future major challenges and opportunities. Since its foundation in 1978 as the world’s major umbrella organization in the field of sexology, WAS has been increasingly devoted to promoting sexual health and rights across the world. Our mission statement summarizes this vision, emphasizing that WAS “promotes sexual health throughout human life spans all over the world by developing, promoting and supporting sexology and sexual rights for all.”

Some of the major historical WAS landmarks are described below:

Declaration of Sexual Rights

WAS has developed over the years several technical documents related to Sexual Health and Sexual Rights. In 1999, the first WAS Declaration of Sexual Rights was approved in Hong Kong. In 2008, WAS published the Sexual Health for the Millennium. More recently, the Sexual Rights Declaration (WAS, 2014 http://www.worldsexualhealth.net/resources/declaration-of-sexualrights/) emphasizes the idea that sexual rights are essential to the full expression of sexual health and are based on universal human rights.

The World Sexual Health Day

In 2010, the WAS called on all their member organizations and all NGOs to celebrate, each September 4th, World Sexual Health Day (WSHD) (https://world sexualhealth.net/news/world-sexual-health-day/) in an effort to promote a greater social awareness of sexual health and sexual rights across the globe. Since then every year we have been celebrating the WSHD with increasing participation of organizations from regional and country levels. The date has been recognized by many global organizations that have joined WAS in promoting the WSHD (WHO, UNAIDS, UNFPD, IPPF, etc.). Recently (July 2021) Portugal became the first country in the world to formally recognize the WSHD as a National Day by a unanimous vote at the Portuguese Parliament. I hope this example will be followed by other countries and ultimately by the UN.

The Sexual Pleasure Declaration

During the 24th World Congress of Sexual Health, a Declaration on Sexual Pleasure was released (Mexico City, October 15, 2019) https://worldsexualhealth.net/declaration-on-sexual-pleasure/ emphasizing the right to the possibility of having pleasurable and safe sexual experiences <INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SEXUAL HEALTH A7> free of discrimination, coercion, and violence is a fundamental part of sexual health and well-being for all.

Finally, I highlight the key challenges and opportunities that may present themselves in the years to come, reflecting on the need to increase global awareness and acceptance of the benefits of sexual health and well-being across the world.