Every Body is the theme of World Sexual Health Day 2026, drawing attention to each person and the body they inhabit. WAS dedicated the 4 September 2026 observance to this message. The theme invites attention to barriers people face in accessing sexual well-being. Source: WAS.
Does inclusion mean everyone should want the same things?
No. An inclusive conversation leaves room for different desires and for not wanting a particular experience. Adding different bodies to a photograph is insufficient if the accompanying story assigns everyone the same goal. One person may be looking for a relationship; another wants information or privacy. The point is being able to express their own question.
Consider a hypothetical example: two people of the same age read an article about intimacy. One would like to share an idea with a partner; the other is not seeking sexual activity. Both may find a clear explanation useful. The article does not need to decide which person is living the right way.
What barriers do people with disabilities encounter?
WHO and UNFPA guidance from 2009 states that people with disabilities have sexual and reproductive health needs like other people, but face barriers to information and services. Access therefore matters: the existence of a service does not, by itself, ensure that someone can use it.
Imagine an appointment where a wheelchair user asks a question, but the answer is addressed only to their companion. This is a hypothetical example of exclusion from a conversation. Speaking directly to the person, while letting them choose whether they want support, is different from deciding in advance who should answer on their behalf.
Another possible example is information offered only through speech to someone who needs to read it. The subject may be relevant, but the format prevents them from understanding it. Needing an accessible format tells us nothing about what that person desires or the choices they want to make.
Why does adult age matter too?
WHO explains that sexual health matters across the life course, including beyond the reproductive years, and that needs can change. A question about intimacy from someone aged seventy therefore deserves attention. Age should not become an automatic answer to the question a person is trying to ask.
Are there concrete examples of participation?
Yes. In its account updated in June 2025, UNFPA describes training in sexual and reproductive health and rights advocacy across Latin America and the Caribbean. It involved 160 women with disabilities from 19 countries. This is a documented example of people participating in advocacy for their own rights.
The message of Every Body continues beyond the awareness day. We can recognise a person as a participant without assuming we already understand their experience. Inclusion takes shape when each person can ask their own questions and be heard, with answers in an accessible form.
Sources
Educational content: it does not provide individual diagnoses or clinical advice.
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