Sexuality is an integral part of the personality of every human being. Its full development depends upon the satisfaction of basic human needs such as the desire for contact, intimacy, emotional expression, pleasure, tenderness and love.
Sexuality is constructed through the interaction between the individual and social structures. Full development of sexuality is essential for individual, interpersonal, and societal well being.
Sexual rights are universal human rights based on the inherent freedom, dignity, and equality of all human beings. Since health is a fundamental human right, so must sexual health be a basic human right.
In order to assure that human beings and societies develop healthy sexuality, the following sexual rights must be recognized, promoted, respected, and defended by all societies through all means. Sexual health is the result of an environment that recognizes, respects and exercises these sexual rights.
1. The right to sexual freedom. Sexual freedom encompasses the possibility for individuals to express their full sexual potential. However, this excludes all forms of sexual coercion, exploitation and abuse at any time and situations in life.
2. The right to sexual autonomy, sexual integrity, and safety of the sexual body. This right involves the ability to make autonomous decisions about one's sexual life within a context of one's own personal and social ethics. It also encompasses control and enjoyment of our own bodies free from torture, mutilation and violence of any sort.
3. The right to sexual privacy. This involves the right for individual decisions and behaviors about intimacy as long as they do not intrude on the sexual rights of others.
4. The right to sexual equity. This refers to freedom from all forms of discrimination regardless of sex, gender, sexual orientation, age, race, social class, religion, or physical and emotional disability.
5. The right to sexual pleasure. Sexual pleasure, including autoeroticism, is a source of physical, psychological, intellectual and spiritual well being.
6. The right to emotional sexual expression. Sexual expression is more than erotic pleasure or sexual acts. Individuals have a right to express their sexuality through communication, touch, emotional expression and love.
7. The right to sexually associate freely. This means the possibility to marry or not, to divorce, and to establish other types of responsible sexual associations.
8. The right to make free and responsible reproductive choices. This encompasses the right to decide whether or not to have children, the number and spacing of children, and the right to full access to the means of fertility regulation.
9. The right to sexual information based upon scientific inquiry. This right implies that sexual information should be generated through the process of unencumbered and yet scientifically ethical inquiry, and disseminated in appropriate ways at all societal levels.
10. The right to comprehensive sexuality education. This is a lifelong process from birth throughout the life cycle and should involve all social institutions.
11. The right to sexual health care. Sexual health care should be available for prevention and treatment of all sexual concerns, problems and disorders.
Sexual Rights are Fundamental and Universal Human Rights
Adopted in Hong Kong at the 14th World Congress of Sexology, August 26, 1999
Showing posts with label Sexual health. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sexual health. Show all posts
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Friday, July 24, 2009
WAS : World Association for Sexual Health: DEFINITIONS
WHO
Introduction
Sexual health is influenced by a complex web of factors ranging from sexual behaviour and attitudes and societal factors, to biological risk and genetic predisposition. It encompasses the problems of HIV and STIs/RTIs, unintended pregnancy and abortion, infertility and cancer resulting from STIs, and sexual dysfunction. Sexual health can also be influenced by mental health, acute and chronic illnesses, and violence. Addressing sexual health at the individual, family, community or health system level requires integrated interventions by trained health providers and a functioning referral system. It also requires a legal, policy and regulatory environment where the sexual rights of all people are upheld.
Addressing sexual health also requires understanding and appreciation of sexuality, gender roles and power in designing and providing services. Understanding sexuality and its impact on practices, partners, reproduction and pleasure presents a number of challenges as well as opportunities for improving sexual and reproductive health care services and interventions. Validity of data collection, given researcher bias and difficulties in discussing such a private issue, also remains a problem in some settings that must be overcome if a greater understanding of sexuality in various settings is to be achieved. Sexuality research must go beyond concerns related to behaviour, numbers of partners and practices, to the underlying social, cultural and economic factors that make individuals vulnerable to risks and affect the ways in which sex is sought, desired and/or refused by women, men and young people. Investigating sexuality in this way entails going beyond reproductive health by looking at sexual health holistically and comprehensively. To do this requires adding to the knowledge base gained from the field of STI/HIV prevention and care, gender studies, and family planning, among others.
Sexual health represents a new thematic area of work for the Department of Reproductive Health and Research. While sexual health has been implicitly understood to be part of the reproductive health agenda, the emergence of HIV/AIDS, of sexual and gender-based violence and of the extent of sexual dysfunction (to name just some of the developments over the past two decades), have highlighted the need for the Department to now focus more explicitly on sexuality and the promotion of sexual health.
Sex
Sex refers to the biological characteristics which define humans as female or male.
[These sets of biological characteristics are not mutually exclusive as there are individuals who possess both, but these characteristics tend to differentiate humans as males and females. In general use in many languages, the term sex is often used to mean "sexual activity", but for technical purposes in the context of sexuality and sexual health discussions, the above definition is preferred.]
Sexuality
Sexuality is a central aspect of being human throughout life and encompasses sex, gender identities and roles, sexual orientation, eroticism, pleasure, intimacy and reproduction. Sexuality is experienced and expressed in thoughts, fantasies, desires, beliefs, attitudes, values, behaviours, practices, roles and relationships. While sexuality can include all of these dimensions, not all of them are always experienced or expressed. Sexuality is influenced by the interaction of biological, psychological, social, economic, political, cultural, ethical, legal, historical and religious and spiritual factors.
Sexual health
Sexual health is a state of physical, emotional, mental and social well-being related 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.
Sexual rights
Sexual rights embrace human rights that are already recognized in national laws, international human rights documents and other consensus documents. These include the right of all persons, free of coercion, discrimination and violence, to:
* the highest attainable standard of health in relation to sexuality, including access to sexual and reproductive health care services;
* seek, receive and impart information in relation to sexuality;
* sexuality education;
* respect for bodily integrity;
* choice of partner;
* decide to be sexually active or not;
* consensual sexual relations;
* consensual marriage;
* decide whether or not, and when to have children; and
* pursue a satisfying, safe and pleasurable sexual life.
The responsible exercise of human rights requires that all persons respect the rights of others.
Introduction
Sexual health is influenced by a complex web of factors ranging from sexual behaviour and attitudes and societal factors, to biological risk and genetic predisposition. It encompasses the problems of HIV and STIs/RTIs, unintended pregnancy and abortion, infertility and cancer resulting from STIs, and sexual dysfunction. Sexual health can also be influenced by mental health, acute and chronic illnesses, and violence. Addressing sexual health at the individual, family, community or health system level requires integrated interventions by trained health providers and a functioning referral system. It also requires a legal, policy and regulatory environment where the sexual rights of all people are upheld.
Addressing sexual health also requires understanding and appreciation of sexuality, gender roles and power in designing and providing services. Understanding sexuality and its impact on practices, partners, reproduction and pleasure presents a number of challenges as well as opportunities for improving sexual and reproductive health care services and interventions. Validity of data collection, given researcher bias and difficulties in discussing such a private issue, also remains a problem in some settings that must be overcome if a greater understanding of sexuality in various settings is to be achieved. Sexuality research must go beyond concerns related to behaviour, numbers of partners and practices, to the underlying social, cultural and economic factors that make individuals vulnerable to risks and affect the ways in which sex is sought, desired and/or refused by women, men and young people. Investigating sexuality in this way entails going beyond reproductive health by looking at sexual health holistically and comprehensively. To do this requires adding to the knowledge base gained from the field of STI/HIV prevention and care, gender studies, and family planning, among others.
Sexual health represents a new thematic area of work for the Department of Reproductive Health and Research. While sexual health has been implicitly understood to be part of the reproductive health agenda, the emergence of HIV/AIDS, of sexual and gender-based violence and of the extent of sexual dysfunction (to name just some of the developments over the past two decades), have highlighted the need for the Department to now focus more explicitly on sexuality and the promotion of sexual health.
Sex
Sex refers to the biological characteristics which define humans as female or male.
[These sets of biological characteristics are not mutually exclusive as there are individuals who possess both, but these characteristics tend to differentiate humans as males and females. In general use in many languages, the term sex is often used to mean "sexual activity", but for technical purposes in the context of sexuality and sexual health discussions, the above definition is preferred.]
Sexuality
Sexuality is a central aspect of being human throughout life and encompasses sex, gender identities and roles, sexual orientation, eroticism, pleasure, intimacy and reproduction. Sexuality is experienced and expressed in thoughts, fantasies, desires, beliefs, attitudes, values, behaviours, practices, roles and relationships. While sexuality can include all of these dimensions, not all of them are always experienced or expressed. Sexuality is influenced by the interaction of biological, psychological, social, economic, political, cultural, ethical, legal, historical and religious and spiritual factors.
Sexual health
Sexual health is a state of physical, emotional, mental and social well-being related 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.
Sexual rights
Sexual rights embrace human rights that are already recognized in national laws, international human rights documents and other consensus documents. These include the right of all persons, free of coercion, discrimination and violence, to:
* the highest attainable standard of health in relation to sexuality, including access to sexual and reproductive health care services;
* seek, receive and impart information in relation to sexuality;
* sexuality education;
* respect for bodily integrity;
* choice of partner;
* decide to be sexually active or not;
* consensual sexual relations;
* consensual marriage;
* decide whether or not, and when to have children; and
* pursue a satisfying, safe and pleasurable sexual life.
The responsible exercise of human rights requires that all persons respect the rights of others.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Sexología: De Italia a Europa y al mundo
Resumen
Italia puede muy bien ser considerado el país madre de la investigación sexual moderna. El conocimiento griego y romano antiguo acerca de la Anatomía y la Fisiología sexual humana fue preservado por médicos y eruditos islámicos. Sus obras, junto con las de Hipócrates, Galeno, Sorano y otros, fueron la base para el curriculum de la Escuela de Medicina de Salerno que, a partir del siglo XIII, sentó los estándares para el resto de Europa. A finales del siglo XV y pricipios del XVI, Leonardo da Vinci, "el primer sexólogo", fue uno de los pioneros científicos en empezar a disecar y explorar la Anatomía sexual y reproductiva humana. En el siglo XVI, Gabriele Fallopio y sus colegas produjeron adelantos revolucionarios en este nuevo campo. A finales del siglo XIX, Paolo Mantegazza expandió el enfoque médico tradicional al desarrollar una perspectiva antropológica de la sexualidad humana, convirtiéndose de ese modo en el primer sexólogo verdadero en el sentido moderno. Italia también produjo la primera revista científica dedicada completamente a cuestiones sexuales: "Archivio delle psicopatie sessuali", editada por el psiquiatra napolitano Pasquale Penta (1896). Estos precedentes finalmente permitieron al médico berlinés Iwan Bloch en 1907 desarrollar el concepto de Sexología como una ciencia interdisciplinaria en su propio derecho. Su colega Magnus Hirschfeld en 1908 editó la primera Revista de Sexología y no es ninguna coincidencia que solicitó y recibió contribuciones de los "grandes viejos" Mantegazza y Lombroso. A su vez los sexólogos alemanes, cuyo trabajo fue destruido por los nazis, sentaron un precedente para el renacimiento de la Sexología en los Estados Unidos. De hecho, algunas de sus figuras más prominentes e influyentes como Harry Benjamin, Ernst Gräfenberg y Hans Lehfeldt habían ido a Nueva York desde Berlín. El éxito de la Sexología estadounidense reestimuló los esfuerzos correspondientes en Europa, y hoy la Sexología es una empresa académica internacional con un futuro prometedor. En 1992, Italia nuevamente desempeñó un papel pionero como el país anfitrión del primer congreso de una nueva Federación Europea de Sexología (FES).
Simonelli, C., Petruccelli, F., Vizzari, V. eds.
"Sessualità e terzo millennio, studi e ricerche in sessuologia clinica", vol.I, Milan 1997, pp 13-22
El ultimo Congreso de la FES se realizo en FLorencia, Italia, del 11 al 15 de Febrero de 2009.
El proximo Congreso de la WAS, Asociacion Mundial de la Salud Sexual, se realizara en Götegorg (Gotemburgo) Suecia del 21 al 25 de Junio de 2009.
Friday, November 28, 2008
Congress WAS, Sydney 2007
THE BENEFITS OF SEXUALITY ON SOCIAL,
EMOTIONAL AND SPIRITUAL HEALTH
Terry Hull
Pleasure may be the key to the successful working of the reproductive
systems of humans, but for all the enjoyment sexual relationships
can provide, there are countervailing forces of guilt and disappointment
at work on the individual psyche. Religious and social
norms enforce limits on sexual expressiveness. These controls are
defended as means to protect individuals and their partners from
unhappiness due to infidelity. The contrasting balance of potential
pleasure on the one hand and deeply felt self controls on the other
gives rise to many problems of sexual health. Couples with discordant
expectations about sexual pleasures can find their relationships
crumbling. Deeply planted understandings about inappropriate
behavior can cause individuals to feel shame or fear when faced
with choices about their sexuality and particularly their desires.
People unable to achieve desired pleasures due to physical handicaps
experience a loss of wellbeing that can be extremely distressing.
Simultaneously society struggles to control the individual
expression of harmful sexual behavior such as pederasty while
protecting the rights of individuals to enjoy personal satisfaction.
The recognition and promotion of sexual pleasure as an integral part of
wellbeing is one of the most challenging elements of the sexual
health agenda. Progress in this area requires extraordinary efforts
by professional groups and political leaders to forge a forthright
understanding of the meaning of pleasure in peoples lives, and the
priority of promoting healthy sexuality as a part of a global health
agenda.
EMOTIONAL AND SPIRITUAL HEALTH
Terry Hull
Pleasure may be the key to the successful working of the reproductive
systems of humans, but for all the enjoyment sexual relationships
can provide, there are countervailing forces of guilt and disappointment
at work on the individual psyche. Religious and social
norms enforce limits on sexual expressiveness. These controls are
defended as means to protect individuals and their partners from
unhappiness due to infidelity. The contrasting balance of potential
pleasure on the one hand and deeply felt self controls on the other
gives rise to many problems of sexual health. Couples with discordant
expectations about sexual pleasures can find their relationships
crumbling. Deeply planted understandings about inappropriate
behavior can cause individuals to feel shame or fear when faced
with choices about their sexuality and particularly their desires.
People unable to achieve desired pleasures due to physical handicaps
experience a loss of wellbeing that can be extremely distressing.
Simultaneously society struggles to control the individual
expression of harmful sexual behavior such as pederasty while
protecting the rights of individuals to enjoy personal satisfaction.
The recognition and promotion of sexual pleasure as an integral part of
wellbeing is one of the most challenging elements of the sexual
health agenda. Progress in this area requires extraordinary efforts
by professional groups and political leaders to forge a forthright
understanding of the meaning of pleasure in peoples lives, and the
priority of promoting healthy sexuality as a part of a global health
agenda.
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