Sexual Justice Indaba – The 25th of the World Association of Sexual Health 2021

We would like to welcome you to the WAS 2021 Sexual Justice Indaba – the opening event of the 25th
Congress of the World Association for Sexual Health!

What is the World Association for Sexual Health’s current understanding of Sexual Justice?

We understand Sexual Justice to be at the intersection of social justice and sexual rights and that it is based
on the following principles: Human dignity; Equality; Personal and Bodily Autonomy; Citizenship;
Community; Participation; Solidarity; Rights and Responsibilities; and Peace.

Sexual Justice is not only a theoretical construct, but it is oriented towards the implementation of operational
actions that facilitate a virtuous tripod that rights should be based on: accessibility, guarantee and equity. In
relation to sexual health, Sexual Justice is directly associated with the possibility of access to information
and education, affordable health care, accessibility to health services, the specificity of supply in these
services for all people, as well as the right to acceptance and respect.

Within the framework of Sexual Justice, sexual, gender and relationship diversity are considered as
indisputable realities which should be safe guarded. This means that individual sexual expression extends far
beyond reproduction and includes pleasure and enjoyment throughout the course of a person’s life, including
freedom and protection from violent, non-consensual and/or unwanted sexual and reproductive activities.

We acknowledge that our current understanding of Sexual Justice is limited. We embark on this Sexual
Justice Consultation to improve our understanding of Sexual Justice. Our long- term aim is to produce a
fully informed Declaration on Sexual Justice and for it to be disseminated in order to change policy around
the globe.

How do we intend to do this?

We have created an ambitious protocol to allow all those who are interested to express their thoughts and
ideas. We are first reaching out to stakeholders to share their thoughts before the Sexual Justice Indaba. At
the Sexual Justice Indaba we will be using the World Café methodology which is a structured conversational
process for knowledge sharing where groups of people discuss several topics. The Café is built on the
assumption that people already have within them the wisdom, knowledge and creativity to confront even the
most difficult challenges. Given the appropriate context and focus, it is possible to access and use this deeper
knowledge about what is important. After the Indaba, the consultation process will continue.

This consultation will have multiple phases:

Phase 1: General information collection (already underway):

We are inviting as many stakeholders as possible from around the globe to participate. We are asking you as
a stakeholder to let us know what Sexual Justice means to you and to inform WAS on the pertinent issues
related to Sexual Justice. During phase 1, we ask you to share your ideas on what Sexual Justice is either on
social media or on our Sexual Justice notice board. Your responses will be analysed by our team and
distilled into the key discussion themes at the Indaba. Just click on this link to start sharing. Also, look out
for our social media posts and respond in the comments and share your ideas.

Phase 2: The WAS 2021 Sexual Justice Indaba (9 September 2021):

The Indaba is informed by Phase 1 of this Consultation. The Indaba Programme includes the following:

- Presentations from leaders in Sexual rights and Sexual Justice from different regions
- Facilitated dialogues, in small groups, on the major tracks determined by phase 1

The Indaba is rooted in the idea that some of the most valuable conversations at congresses happen
informally amongst delegates over lunch, coffee or on the way to a panel. An indaba (pronounced in-dah-
bah) is an important conference or consultation held by the iziDuna (principal men) of the Zulu and Xhosa
people of South Africa to discuss important issues pertaining to their communities. Indabas may include
only the izinDuna of a particular community, or they may be held with representatives of other communities.

We are certainly not only including men in this Indaba. We recognise every single person or organisation
with an interest in sexual justice as an izinDuna or “principal member” of the global collective. All voices
are of utmost importance to reach a fully comprehensive understanding of Sexual Justice in order to catalyze
change.

During the Indaba you will form part of the dialogues in the World Café session, created by our state-of-the-
art congress platform. Click here to register for the congress so you can be a part of the Indaba.

The Indaba is a historical opportunity to take part in a thought provoking and agenda setting conversation
with people from all over the globe and to contribute in a meaningful way to the contents of a preliminary
Sexual Justice Report to be presented at the WAS 2021 Congress on 11 September 2021.

This report will inform further discussion and consultation that will eventually be developed into a WAS
Declaration on Sexual Justice, with the aim of changing policies around the globe.
Who is this for?

Anyone who works in and around sexuality and sexual health and has an interest in Sexual rights and Sexual
Justice issues, including activists, medical professionals, mental health professionals, educators, politicians,
clergy, women, youth leaders and organisations, LGBTIQIA+ people and organisations, people living with
disabilities, people who use drugs, academics, grassroots organisations, policy makers and any other person
or organisation with an interest in Sexual Justice to participate.

When is this?

Phase 1 is already underway and will be concluded on Friday the 3rd of September 2021. The data collected
will then be analyzed and the discussion themes for the Indaba will be determined based on the information
we collect.

The WAS 2021 Sexual Justice Indaba (Phase 2) is on the 9th of September 2021, 10:00 – 14:00 (GMT + 2).
It is FREE for all WAS 2021 Congress attendees.

How to participate in the Sexual Justice Indaba:

Phase one: Any person or organisation is welcome to participate in the data collection part of this
consultation. Just click on this link and have your say on the Sexual Justice notice board.

Click on the pink plus sign icon in the bottom right-hand corner and a text box will pop up on the
screen. You can also double click on the board to make the text box appear. Enter your comment in the text
box to create your own post. You can type, add an image, document, or video. Please add as much
information as possible – we are looking to collect opinions, papers, examples, stories - anything you think
might add to this comprehensive consultation on Sexual Justice.

Phase two: All WAS 2021 Congress Attendees can take part in the Sexual Justice Indaba. Click here to
register for the congress.

*Please note: We do have some funding available. Please send an email to

congresspresident@worldsexology.org with a motivation for funding your participation in this event.

Phase three: Applications for inclusion on the task force responsible for writing the Sexual Justice
Declaration will start shortly after the congress.

For more information about the Indaba and the other exciting Congress satellite events: Workshops
(was2021.org)
We look forward to engaging with you throughout this consultation.

Yours faithfully,

The Sexual Justice Indaba Coordinators

Alain Giami (WAS Scientific Committee Chair)

Avri Spilka (SASHA Task Force / Counselling Psychologist)
Elna Rudolph (WAS Congress President 2021)