Sexual health: policy context

The main policy document within Scotland relating to sexual health is Respect and responsibility: Strategy and action plan for improving sexual health (Scottish Executive, 2005). This strategy, launched in January 2005, sets out a framework for improving sexual health in Scotland. The overarching aims of the strategy are:

• to improve the quality, range, consistency, accessibility and cohesion of sexual health services from primary care to specialist genitourinary medicine services, in line with the principles of providing services which are safe, local and appropriate;
• to support everyone in Scotland, including those who face discrimination due to their life circumstances or their gender, race or ethnicity, religion or faith, sexual orientation, disability or age, to acquire and maintain the knowledge, skills and values necessary for good sexual health and wellbeing; and
• to positively influence the cultural and social factors that impact on sexual health.

The first annual progress report on implementing the Scottish sexual health strategy was published in November 2006.

Further information on sexual health policy in Scotland is available on the Scottish Executive website.