WGNRR Endorses The Pleasure Principles
The Women’s Global Network for Reproductive Rights (WGNRR) is proud to announce our endorsement of The Pleasure Principles, reinforcing our commitment to a sex-positive, pleasure-based approach to sexual and reproductive health, rights, (SRHR) and justice. As a southern-based, global network dedicated to connecting and strengthening movements for SRHR, WGNRR’s mission is grounded in the realities of those who most lack economic, social, and political power.
Officially known as the International Day of Action for Women’s Health, May 28 is a global campaign to advance SRHR and justice, focusing on key issues such as access to sexual and reproductive healthcare, reproductive justice, and the elimination of gender-based violence, among others. This year, the campaign emphasizes the critical threats to SRHRJ posed by global crises, unjust wars and conflicts, and natural calamities that leave women, girls, and gender-diverse individuals without access to essential sexual and reproductive health care. It also highlights the importance of centering SRHRJ in major global agendas and holding governments accountable to their international human rights commitments.
Read: 2024 May 28 Call to Action
As the world wraps up their 2024 May 28 Campaign mobilizations, we reflect on the crisis, conflicts, and injustices that critically threaten the pleasurable sexual and reproductive lives of diverse women by causing physical and psychological trauma, disrupting healthcare services, and reinforcing social stigmas and economic hardships. These combined factors erode the conditions necessary for pleasurable and consensual sexual experiences, highlighting the urgent need to address the interconnected impacts of crises, conflicts, and injustices on SRHR.
At the core of our mission lies the strong belief that for sexual and reproductive health to be attained and maintained, every individual must have pleasurable, respectful, and consensual experiences of sexuality and sexual relationships, free of coercion, discrimination, and violence. Moreover, the sexual rights of all persons must be respected, protected, and fulfilled. Pleasure is therefore inextricably linked to SRHR – encompassing all human rights related to sexuality and reproduction. Pleasure-based SRHR rests on the decisions individuals make about their own bodies, health, and lives, and how they can access the services, commodities, and programs to exercise their choice.
Furthermore, reproductive justice has broadened our understanding of SRHR by placing it in a framework that considers the complex and interconnected factors shaping individuals’ reproductive experiences, including pleasure. It is only when women and girls have full economic, social, and political power and resources that they can have full control over their sexuality, gender, work, and reproduction, thus experiencing pleasure as an integral component of their reproductive autonomy.
As we move forward from May 28 – International Day of Action for Women’s Health, WGNRR and partners remains steadfast in our work to promote #SRHR4ALL, one that recognizes pleasure, respect, and consent. By integrating pleasure-based approaches into our advocacy, we strive to create a world where every individual can enjoy their sexual and reproductive rights fully and freely.
The Pleasure Principles
These Pleasure Principles are designed to act as a guide and inspiration to support people and organisations to embark on the journey towards a sex-positive, pleasure-based approach to sexual health. The Pleasure Principles aim to help inspire and guide you as a pleasure activist, propagandist or practitioner.