Sexual Justice for All: Beyond Health, Toward Dignity and Equality
On September 4th, “World Sexual Health Day”, we turn our attention to a simple yet profound idea: that every individual, everywhere, has the right to a life free of sexual discrimination and violence, where their well-being, rights, and pleasure are championed. This year’s theme, “Sexual Justice: What Can We Do?” suggests we move beyond mere statistics and create a society where this vision becomes a reality. It’s a call to action, particularly for nations like Bangladesh, where significant progress has been made and yet critical gaps remain.
Sexual Justice, as this year’s theme, encourages everyone to view Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) through the lens of Social Justice. Needless to say, an individual’s physical, emotional, and mental well-being in relation to sexuality is of great importance. Sexual justice calls upon everyone to construct a world where all individuals are free to experience sexual health, rights, and pleasure without any type of impediment or exclusion. It is feasible on the four pillars of valuing the body autonomy and dignity of all individuals, upholding sexual and reproductive rights, promoting non-discrimination and inclusion, and ensuring access to information, justice, and reparation. These are not abstract pillars, but on these lies the building block of a healthy and fair society.
A crucial part of the sexual justice conversation is debunking harmful myths. For instance, some people believe talking about sex with young people encourages them to be sexually active, which, in actuality, is a dangerous oversimplification. In reality, comprehensive sexuality education equips young people with the knowledge and skills they need to make safe and healthy decisions throughout their lives. Similarly, the idea that sexual health is only about preventing STIs and unwanted pregnancies ignores the full picture. Sexual health is a state of physical, emotional, mental, and social well-being that includes pleasure, safety, and respect. Acknowledging this broader definition is of paramount importance to create a compassionate and effective approach to public health.
In Bangladesh, a snapshot of the figures reveals a patchwork of success and ongoing challenges. The 62% contraceptive prevalence rate is promising, but 12% of married women still have an unmet need for family planning. Adolescent pregnancy is an issue, with Bangladesh recording the highest rate in the non-Sub-Saharan African world, with 113 per 1000 adolescent girls becoming pregnant by the age of 19. The age at marriage of a woman is even 18 years on average, which can lead to such issues.
This chain of thought urges us to educate ourselves, seeking out reliable, evidence-based information to learn about our sexual rights and the rights of others. Next, we must start conversations with family, friends, and community members, using open and respectful language to break down taboos and normalise discussions about sexual health and consent. Furthermore, we also have a responsibility to advocate for change, ranging from supporting local organisations working on sexual and reproductive rights to advocating for inclusive policies in our workplaces and communities.
World Sexual Health Day 2025 is a testament to the constant effort of recognising that sexual justice is not just a distant ideal but a goal we can all work toward. We can help build a world where dignity, safety, and respect are the norms and where everyone can experience the full scope of their sexual health and well-being by educating ourselves, speaking up, and standing for the rights of every person.
Sources:
- World Sexual Health Day 2025: Sexual Justice: What Can We Do?
- UNFPA_world-sexual-health-day
- Building a transformative agenda for accountability in SRHR: lessons learned from SRHR and accountability literature
- Bangladesh Sample Vital Statistics 2021 report
- Family Planning_UNFPA