Disputes over sexual orientation definitions delayed the adoption of the WHO’s Global HIV Strategy

At the 75th World Health Assembly, a dispute broke out over the inclusion of terms such as “sexual orientation”, “sexuality” and “men who have sex with men” when the assembly discussed the WHO Global Strategy on HIV, Hepatitis and STIs for 2022-2030.

Nigeria, Egypt, Pakistan, Jordan and Saudi Arabia opposed the inclusion of this wording. Representatives from those countries argued that some of the terms related to sexual health and rights “insult their culture”. Some countries were also opposed to references around comprehensive sex education and gender identity.

It is worth noting that all the above-mentioned terms are already the standard in the field of HIV prevention, treatment and care.

Due to the disputes, the approval of the new strategy was postponed, despite the previous strategy expiring in 2021.

Saudi Arabia, as a compromise, proposed to delete the glossary of the document entirely and add two footnotes. One footnote will indicate that some countries will have reservations about the term “sexual orientation”. The second will note objections to the International Technical Guidance for Sex Education.

Several states’ delegations said they’d need to discuss the matter with their leaders, but there were no objections to Saudi Arabia’s compromise. Monaco’s delegate was disappointed at the objections and delays saying they were “unprecedented in [her] many years at the WHO”.