ICFP News & Insights

‘It’s always fear-based’: why sexual health projects should switch the focus to pleasure

Nov 22, 2022

After decades of emphasis on STIs, HIV, Aids and unwanted pregnancy, a wave of initiatives around the world are using a more sex-positive narrative

Originally posted by The Guardian

Swiry’s work was part of a wider campaign to introduce the concept of pleasure into sexual and reproductive health and rights in Africa, run by the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), one of the biggest providers of sex education globally.

Its digital campaign Treasure Your Pleasure was aimed at young adults and ran in three languages (French, Portuguese and English) from March to November over TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. It featured videos from influencers from all over Africa, Twitter chats, and pop art-style graphics with sex-positive messaging posted on its Instagram page.

The campaign reached 9 million people and added 40,000 new followers to IPPF Africa digital platforms. It drove 330,000 people to the campaign’s landing page on the IPPF website, which features a quiz, downloadable stickers for use on social media and evidence-based research. The IPPF regional office in Asia now hopes to run a similar campaign.

Explore More

Welcoming the New Chair of the ICFP International Steering Committee, Dr. Philip Anglewicz

Welcoming the New Chair of the ICFP International Steering Committee, Dr. Philip Anglewicz

ICFP Secretariat Meets with LAC Partners in Colombia

ICFP Secretariat Meets with LAC Partners in Colombia

ICFP 2025 Unveils New Sponsorship Benefits and Opportunities

ICFP 2025 Unveils New Sponsorship Benefits and Opportunities

ICFP Media Fellow Nthanda Manduwi Hosts Conversation with the President of the Union for African Population Studies

ICFP Media Fellow Nthanda Manduwi Hosts Conversation with the President of the Union for African Population Studies

FPNN Uncovers Stories at APC and Beyond: Transformative Discussions Shaping the Future of Family Planning

FPNN Uncovers Stories at APC and Beyond: Transformative Discussions Shaping the Future of Family Planning

ICFP 2025 Power Shifting Subcommittee Hosts Workshop on Equity in African Research

ICFP 2025 Power Shifting Subcommittee Hosts Workshop on Equity in African Research

Share the News

Let your networks know about the historic ICFP 2025 happening in Latin America for the first time ever in Bogotá, Colombia on 3–6 November 2025!

Download All: Horizontal | Square

Virtual Events

WATCH NOW: Divergent Demographic Experiences in the 21st Century

Divergent Demographic Experiences in the 21st Century: Implications for Low- and Middle-income CountriesMonthly Family Planning / SRHR Scientific Seminar 29 November 202310 AM - 11 AM ET // 15:00 - 16:00 GMTHosted in English & French (Transcription) The Union for...