On October 15, 2019, delegates at the 24th World Congress of the World Association for Sexual Health (WAS) in Mexico City adopted the Declaration on Sexual Pleasure, affirming pleasure as an intrinsic dimension of sexual health and human rights [World Association for Sexual Health, 2019][8]. This historic statement marks a pivotal shift: moving beyond risk‑focused discourses to recognize pleasure’s role in well‑being, autonomy, and equality.

Defining Sexual Pleasure

The Declaration opens by defining sexual pleasure as “the physical and/or psychological satisfaction and enjoyment derived from shared or solitary erotic experiences, including thoughts, fantasies, dreams, emotions, and feelings” [World Association for Sexual Health, 2019][8]. This definition aligns with the World Health Organization’s broader framing of sexual health, which explicitly includes pleasure alongside safety, consent, and non‑discrimination [WHO, 2024][2]. By embedding pleasure in its core, the Declaration underscores that pleasure is not a peripheral luxury but a fundamental human experience.

Pleasure as a Sexual Right

Grounded in the rights to equality, autonomy, bodily integrity, and the highest attainable standard of health, the Declaration proclaims that pleasurable, consensual experiences free from coercion and discrimination are essential to sexual health and well‑being [World Association for Sexual Health, 2019][8]. This positions pleasure squarely within a human‑rights framework, resonating with the 2022 WHO update that describes sexual health as “the possibility of having pleasurable and safe sexual experiences” [WHO SRH, 2024][5].

“Sexual pleasure is a fundamental part of sexual rights as a matter of human rights.”
— Declaration on Sexual Pleasure, WAS (2019) [World Association for Sexual Health, 2019][8]

Key Declarations and Calls to Action

The Declaration enumerates six core affirmations, including that:

1. Safe pleasurable experiences, free of violence, are essential to health.

2. Access to sources of pleasure enhances subjective well‑being.

3. Diversity in sexual experiences is inherent to human rights.

4. Pleasure must be integrated into education, health services, research, and advocacy globally.

5. Programmatic inclusion of pleasure contributes to sustainable development, demanding immediate, comprehensive action [World Association for Sexual Health, 2019][8].

It then urges governments, NGOs, academic institutions, media, and the private sector to:

• Embed pleasure in laws and policies.

• Ensure comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) addresses pleasure inclusively.

• Guarantee sexual health services that are accessible, affordable, and stigma‑free.

• Expand rights‑based research on pleasure’s health benefits.

• Reaffirm commitments to diversity and human rights across all levels of society [World Association for Sexual Health, 2019][8].

The Health and Well‑Being Benefits of Pleasure

Extensive research reveals that sexual pleasure yields short‑ and long‑term health benefits. In the short term, pleasurable sexual activity can increase pain thresholds, improve sleep quality, and reduce stress via oxytocin and endorphin release [Whipple & Komisaruk, 1985; Brissette et al., 1985][turn3view0]. Over the long term, studies find associations between frequent sexual activity and decreased prostate cancer risk in men, as well as increased longevity in both men and women who report satisfying sexual lives [Palmore, 1982; Rider et al., 2016][turn3view0]. Psychologically, pleasure reinforces self‑esteem and emotional well‑being, creating a virtuous cycle that motivates healthy sexual expression [Ford et al., 2019][turn3view0].

Integrating Pleasure into Comprehensive Sexuality Education

Despite strong policy frameworks—85% of 155 countries surveyed report laws relating to sexuality education—many CSE programs lack breadth and depth, often omitting pleasure altogether [UNESCO Global Status Report, 2024][1]. Research shows students desire earlier, more comprehensive instruction that includes communication, consent, and pleasure [UNESCO Global Status Report, 2024][1]. UNESCO’s latest guidance emphasizes CSE that is age‑appropriate, evidence‑informed, culturally sensitive, and rights‑based, urging inclusion of pleasure to empower learners with the knowledge and skills for respectful, self‑determined experiences [UNESCO CSE, 2024][turn0search1].

Policy and Service Delivery: From Theory to Practice

Some countries and organizations have begun embedding pleasure in policy and services. For instance, a growing number of sexual health clinics now offer pleasure‑affirming counseling alongside STI prevention and contraceptive services, ensuring holistic care. Rights‑based NGOs report that framing pleasure as integral to health improves uptake of services, reduces stigma, and enhances patient satisfaction. Yet, coverage remains uneven: marginalized groups—LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, older adults—often face barriers to pleasure‑inclusive services [BU School Public Health, 2024][turn0search11].

Bridging Research Gaps

A 2024 commentary from Boston University’s School of Public Health decries the lack of funding for pleasure‑focused research, noting that while WHO’s updated definition includes pleasure, most studies still prioritize dysfunction over well‑being [BU School Public Health, 2024][turn0search11]. Calls for rights‑based funding, innovative methodologies, and dissemination emphasize that understanding pleasure is critical not only for individual health but for public health outcomes, such as mental health, relationship stability, and sustainable development.

Conclusion: A Call for Collective Action

The 2019 Declaration on Sexual Pleasure is more than a statement—it’s a blueprint for reframing sexual health around pleasure, rights, and diversity. By integrating pleasure into law, education, services, and research, stakeholders can advance gender equality, autonomy, and well‑being. To realize this vision, governments, educators, clinicians, researchers, and communities must collaborate—transforming policies, curricula, and care to ensure that sexual pleasure is not only acknowledged but celebrated as a human right for all.

References & Further Reading:

• Declaration on Sexual Pleasure, World Association for Sexual Health (2019).

• Sexual health, World Health Organization (2024).

• The journey towards comprehensive sexuality education: global status report, UNESCO (2024). [UNESCO Global Status Report]

• Comprehensive Sexuality Education: For healthy, informed, and empowered learners, UNESCO (2024). [UNESCO CSE Q&A]

• The Health Benefits of Sexual Expression, PMC (Year).

• POV: Sexual Pleasure Should Be Integrated into Scientific Research on Sexual Health, Boston University SPH (2024).