What do you think about when you hear the word ‘justice?’ Most people will consider it relates to the concept of others being treated fairly, impartially and reasonably by the law. Most people will have heard of social justice, meaning that everyone deserves equal economic, political and social rights and opportunities. But have you ever considered the idea of sexual justice?
World Sexual Health Day (WSHD) is annually celebrated on September 4th to raise awareness about the importance of sexual health, rights, justice and pleasure. This year, there is a specific focus on sexual justice, which can take many forms, such as the role of access to high quality education as well as the right for young people to access sexual health support without discrimination, fear, shame or stigma.
The World Association for Sexual Health [1]states that ‘sexual justice exists when all people have the power and resources to make healthy decisions about their bodies, sexuality and reproduction. It means building a world where everyone can experience sexual health rights, pleasure, free from discrimination, violence and barriers.’
[2]Furthermore, The World Health Organization (WHO) considers sexual and reproductive health to be a universal human right and that right involves access to contraception, fertility and infertility care, prevention and treatment of STIs, protection from sexual and gender-based violence and education on safe and healthy relationships. Despite the fact that sexual health is a human right, we still live in a world where many of these services are unavailable to those who need them, leading to an imbalance of justice related to social inequalities, the denial of rights and individual acts of harassment or violence.
In the UK we have recently had new government Relationships, Sex and Health Education guidance (RSHE) which now has a far greater emphasis on how to be safe in intimate or sexual relationships, with an expectation that young people at secondary school should be taught about the role of consent in relationships, power dynamics and imbalances, efficacy of contraceptive choices, sexual harassment, the negative influence of pornography affecting sexual attitudes and how to recognise and seek support for concerns around sexual violence. All of these topics play a part in striving for greater sexual justice and for enabling young people to make healthy relationship decisions.
At acet UK we welcome many of the new additions to the guidance focusing on these issues, as there are currently some concerning statistics around sexual harm and young people. [3]The Youth Endowment Fund recently released a report stating that a third of children had seen sexual violence on social media and 31% of all young people who have been in a relationship in the past year have experienced physical or sexual violence. As well as this the NSPCC notes that, [4]’LGBTQ+ children and young people are at greater risk of certain types of abuse and may face stigma, discrimination and exploitation.’ Only by changing the narrative through educating young people about respecting others, knowing what a healthy relationship should look like and having open, honest conversations can we expect to see a shift in attitudes and behaviours. High quality RSHE has been proven[5] to reduce sexual harm, improve safe sex practices and mental wellbeing, so this is that why inclusive access to sexual health education is so important for all young people, whatever their gender or sexuality. The new guidance also includes the use of the word ‘enjoyable’ for the first time when mentioning sex for young people over the age of consent, and this is something that feels like a positive step in advocating for relationships that are positive, loving and mutually satisfying.
Sadly, in other parts of the world there is an even greater fight for sexual justice than in the UK, particularly in countries where young women and marginalised groups are discriminated against or oppressed. In Sub-Saharan Africa, women and girls account for 63% of all new HIV infections[6], due to barriers around health care, contraceptive access and gender-based violence. Many of our international projects in countries such as Zimbabwe, Nigeria and South Africa aim to educate and empower children, youth and vulnerable women about their sexual health to reduce the risks of HIV infection and to protect those most at risk from domestic or sexual violence. We know that across the world, there are many who are excluded from basic educational rights about their bodies, such as a lack of education about menstruation or the ability to access to period products. In a world where there is vast global inequality, [7]at least 500 million girls and women lack adequate facilities to manage their periods. This means many of them miss school and do not finish their education, often leading to forced child marriage, early pregnancy and becoming more susceptible to violence and abuse.
Supporting children and young people about menstrual health, contraception, FGM and forced marriage is a huge sexual justice issue that we need to advocate for using the privilege we have as part of a developed democratic society. RSE educators are at the forefront of this issue, working with young people, schools and other external agencies to try and make a difference and reduce the stigma around discussing sexual health. We believe the best conversations can start early on so that the subject does not become taboo and so that children grow up knowing their own value before starting a romantic relationship with another. Our team is passionate about reading, researching and exploring themes and issues related to relationship and sexual health so that we can engage with topics that really matter to the young people we work with. Children and young people are naturally curious, questioning and appreciate being heard, so starting up conversations about how bodies work and why relationships should be caring through the use of fun and engaging activities is a great starting point for teaching about healthy decision making.
So what can you do this World Sexual Health Day?
Firstly, we would love you to share this article and raise awareness of sexual justice and the importance of good quality Relationships and Sex Education. Share it among your friends, on social media or in your workplace!
Secondly, we would love to train more educators to become equipped with the confidence and skills to work with young people in schools or youth settings to deliver lessons on healthy relationships and sexual wellbeing. We offer different types of training, so take a look here to find out which would be right for you: https://www.acet-uk.com/training/which-training-right-me
Thirdly we are always looking for financial support with funding our Esteem work in the UK and our International projects. If this is something you are able to do or would like to know more about, please take a look at the case studies and stories on our website. You can also sign up for our newsletters to find out what our latest work involves. https://www.acet-uk.com/subscribe
Finally, if you cannot do any of the above but are able to pray for the work we do in the UK and worldwide, we would greatly appreciate your prayers. Our vision is to transform culture by promoting healthy self-esteem, positive relationships and good sexual health. We know we cannot do all of this alone so standing alongside our work is a powerful way to support the work we do!
If you have any other questions or would like to book primary or secondary school lessons with our Esteem educators in London or the North-West, please do get in touch via info@acet-uk.com
[1] World Sexual Health Day 2025 - World Sexual Health Day
[2] https://www.who.int/health-topics/sexual-and-reproductive-health-and-rights
[3] https://youthendowmentfund.org.uk/
[4] Safeguarding LGBTQ+ children and young people | NSPCC Learning
[5] https://www.sexeducationforum.org.uk
[6] Fact sheet - Latest global and regional statistics on the status of the AIDS epidemic.
[7] https://www.actionaid.org.uk/our-work/womens-rights/period-poverty