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

Power Shifting Pre-conference at the 9th African Population Conference

Power Shifting Pre-conference at the 9th African Population Conference

Journalists to Spotlight the Power of Investing in Access to Family Planning and Reproductive Health

Journalists to Spotlight the Power of Investing in Access to Family Planning and Reproductive Health

Watch Now: Youth Trailblazer Award Application Town Hall / Q&A Sessions

Watch Now: Youth Trailblazer Award Application Town Hall / Q&A Sessions

ICFP 2025 ISC Meeting: March 2024

ICFP 2025 ISC Meeting: March 2024

2025 Youth Trailblazer Applications Now Open

2025 Youth Trailblazer Applications Now Open

Bogotá, Colombia Makes History as the First Latin American Host of Seventh International Conference on Family Planning in November 2025

Bogotá, Colombia Makes History as the First Latin American Host of Seventh International Conference on Family Planning in November 2025

Share the News

Use the following graphics to 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...