However, gender and sexuality are matters of development because they affect both men and women in a more fundamental way.

Speaking at the launch of a book titled; “Bridge Cutting Edge Pack on Gender and Sexuality,” Ms Emily Esplen said, “Sexuality matters because development policies and practices are already having a significant – and often negative – impact on the way people experience their sexuality,” she said, adding”And it matters because the gendered expectations that surround sex – such as the assumption that women are sexually vulnerable and that men are not supposed to talk about their anxieties around sexuality – in turn have significant impact on poverty and well being.”

Participants at the World Social Forum who attended the discussion concurred that men must be fully involved in matters that are related to sexuality.

Esplen said:“This is a big challenge that gender and sexuality activists must consider and act on fast.”

Sexuality cannot be said to be a women or men issue.“Sexuality can make a difference between poverty and well being. We need to adopt positive approaches to sexuality and this can be done by building on the emerging sexual rights movement which is a promising way forward,” said Esplen.

It’s generally recognised that sexuality can bring misery through sexual violence, female genital mutilation, maternal mortality, HIV/Aids or marginalisation of those who break the rules such as non-macho men, single women, sex workers, and people with same sex sexualities and transgender people.

The book seeks to put insight into ways in which sexuality can bring more joy and less misery in people’s lives.

There is need to promote an informed public dialogue on human sexuality and to contribute to positive changes in relevant policies and programmes, by creating mechanisms for learning and advocacy at local, regional and global levels.

The fact that there is a worldwide mobilisation around sexuality is a clear illustration that even issues of policies and politics have an impact on sexuality. “The book says “It’s an issue for activists, for development, for governments, and international institutions.”

The book recognises that while mobilisation around sexuality issues is not new, linking different sexuality issues together into a broader framework of ‘sexual rights’ is a strategy that is only gaining strength and visibility.

According to the book, sexual rights offer the potential for the approach that goes beyond identity politics which are associated with particular categories of people such as ‘women’s rights’ or ‘gay rights’. Sexual rights can instead be taken to mean that everyone should have the right to personal fulfilment, and freedom from coercion, discrimination and violence around sexuality, whatever their sexual orientation or gender identity.

The book further explains that one cannot discuss sexuality without referring to development. There has to be access to sexual health and this can only be done by breaking the silence and factual sexuality education across life spans.

It has to start with the school systems where the education system needs to approve, facilitate and implement comprehensive sexuality education. Others, like religious and traditional institutions, are encouraged to implement sexuality education programmes.

Esplen says: ”For many people poor sexuality itself is a survival issue. Every year over 500,000 women die in pregnancy or childbirth and 99 per cent of these deaths occur in the South. Over 60,000 women still die each year from illegal abortion. Last year alone there were 17.7 million women living with HIV – an increase of over a million compared to 2004.”

She stressed that development need to go beyond the current limited and negative approaches to embrace the significance of sexuality for development in more affirmative ways.

For instance, HIV/AIDS is more than a health issue, and that the solution to the epidemic lies in combating stigma, tackling gender inequality and supporting human rights. A similar recognition is needed in relation to sexuality.