Sexuality can bring misery through sexual violence, HIV/AIDS, maternal mortality, female genital mutilation, or marginalisation of those who break the rules, such as non-macho men, single women, widows who re-marry, sex workers, people with same-sex sexualities, and transgender people. Sexuality can also bring joy, affirmation, intimacy and well-being. How can we make possible more joy and less misery? This In Brief hopes to inspire thinking on this question - with an overview and recommendations on gender, sexuality and sexual rights, an article on Girl Power Initiative's sexuality education programme in Nigeria, and a piece on the Travesti Museum promoting transgender rights in Peru.