Sexpo’s Executive Director, Dr. Tommi Paalanen (Finland), was elected as the Chair of the Sexual Rights Committee of the World Association for Sexual Health (WAS) in May during the 23rd WAS World Congress in Prague. Paalanen has a doctoral degree in Social Sciences and he is specialised in sexual ethics.
WAS has facilitated sexual health through education, health promotion and networking for over three decades. In recent years, WAS has also become involved in advocating changes in public policy to recognise sexual health and rights as key ingredients in overall health and social justice.
“The Sexual Rights Committee monitors the implementation and breaches of sexual rights worldwide, and promotes sexual rights at different levels: with officials, professionals, general public and marginalised groups. The latest publication ‘Fulfil’ deals with sexual rights of young people at policy level. WAS aims to get sexual rights included in binding human rights legislation and ratified by states”, explained Dr. Paalanen.
In 2014 WAS updated The Declaration of Sexual Rights and Dr. Paalanen was part of the task force. Sexpo translated the Declaration into Finnish. Promoting sexual rights is an essential part of Sexpo's work. In recent years, Sexpo has been paying particular attention to the realisation of the sexual rights of young people and people with special needs.
More information:
Tommi Paalanen
+358 50 469 2937, tommi.paalanen@sexpo.fi
Picture: Jaakko Jaskari