To:
Ms. Sima Sami Bahous
Executive Director, UN Women
220 East 42nd Street
New York, NY 10017, USA
Subject: Naturism and Nudism as Expressions of Body Autonomy and Gender Liberation –
Request for Recognition and Dialogue
Dear Executive Director Bahous and the UN Women Policy & Equality Team,
I write to you as Founder of NaturismRE (Naturism Resurgence) — a global initiative working to protect and promote naturism and nudism as non-sexual, body-positive, and environmentally conscious lifestyles that empower individuals to live with dignity, freedom, and authenticity.
We respectfully urge UN Women to consider these peaceful practices within the broader context of bodily autonomy, liberation from objectification, and resistance to commercialised beauty pressure — all core pillars of your mission.
Nudity Without Objectification
Naturism and nudism — though often misunderstood — are grounded in respect for the body as it is, without filters, judgment, or consumer manipulation. In contrast to media portrayals that commodify nudity for profit, naturist and nudist spaces remove power imbalances, strip away performative beauty standards, and allow people — especially women — to be seen without being sold.
This matters in a world where:
• The global beauty and fashion industries profit from female insecurity, pressuring women to conceal, sculpt, or alter their bodies
• Body image anxiety and eating disorders continue to rise globally
• Clothing is still used in many settings as a tool of control, modesty enforcement, and unequal treatment
• Gendered expectations are visually imposed and socially enforced from childhood onward
Naturism and nudism offer a path to freedom from all of that.
A Gender Equity Issue
Naturist and nudist women consistently report:
• A sense of liberation from appearance-based judgment
• Greater comfort and peace in their own bodies
• Relief from the constant sexualisation of their image
• Confidence gained from being present without shame, pressure, or performance
Yet these peaceful and empowering philosophies are:
• Suppressed and misrepresented
• Wrongly conflated with exhibitionism or sexual intent
• Often excluded from serious discourse on body autonomy and self-determination
This exclusion is, itself, a form of gendered discrimination — denying women full access to the spectrum of self-expression.
The NICP Act – A Feminist Cultural Defense
NaturismRE has introduced the Naturist Integrity & Cultural Protection Act (NICP Act 2025) — a legislative framework currently under review in Australia. It:
• Legally defines naturism and nudism as non-sexual, peaceful, and lawful lifestyles
• Prohibits their misrepresentation in fetish, pornographic, or exploitative media
• Provides legal protection for naturist and nudist individuals and communities, including women, families, and young people
• Enables broader access to a body-positive, non-commercial culture of self-acceptance
This Act is more than legal language — it is a framework for defending bodily dignity and the right to choose how we live in our skin.
The 11 Levels of Naturism – Built on Autonomy and Respect
To ensure that women — and all individuals — can engage with naturism and nudism at their own pace and in ways that align with their values and boundaries, NaturismRE has developed the 11 Levels of Naturism. This tiered framework recognises a wide spectrum of participation, from body neutrality and personal reflection to social nudity and public advocacy, without imposing expectations of full disrobing.
These levels are:
• Rooted in consent, comfort, and psychological safety
• Designed to welcome women from all backgrounds, including those who choose to remain clothed
• Acknowledge that body autonomy includes the freedom to be clothed or unclothed without judgment
• Intended as the foundation for global industry standards in ethics, safety, and gender equity
Naturism is not a demand. It is an invitation. Women should never be told how much of themselves they must show to be valued. Our framework ensures that dignity is not conditional on conformity.
The S.A.M. Curriculum – A Gender-Conscious Framework for Self-Respect, Acceptance, and Mindfulness
NaturismRE has developed the S.A.M. Curriculum (Self-Respect, Acceptance,
Mindfulness) — a global educational model designed to help young people and adults build healthy relationships with their bodies, their emotions, and each other.
This framework aims to:
• Promote Self-Respect – understanding personal worth and treating the body with care
• Foster Acceptance – embracing diversity in appearance, ability, and comfort levels
• Cultivate Mindfulness – encouraging presence, connection to nature, and emotional awareness
The S.A.M. Curriculum directly addresses the damage caused by shame, body objectification, and hyper-commercialised appearance culture, particularly for girls and
women.
We believe S.A.M. could support UN Women’s goals in education, mental health, violence prevention, and gender equality — particularly in helping communities unlearn harmful body narratives and adopt inclusive, non-sexual, dignity-first models of self-image.
Our Request to UN Women
We respectfully request that UN Women:
1. Recognise naturism and nudism as legitimate, non-sexual lifestyle practices aligned with body autonomy and gender freedom
2. Review the NICP Act as a legal framework for protecting peaceful cultural practices and combating misrepresentation
3. Explore the 11 Levels of Naturism as a practical, inclusive, gender-conscious model for personal comfort and public education
4. Engage in dialogue with NaturismRE on how body-positive cultures like ours can contribute to freedom, safety, and choice
5. Consider the adaptation of S.A.M. principles as part of gender-sensitive education and mental wellness programming globally
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� Let Women Be Seen Without Being Sold
Naturism and nudism are not provocations — they are reclamations. They return the human body to its natural dignity, free from commodification, censorship, and imposed ideals.
UN Women’s leadership in advancing global body autonomy and freedom of expression will be stronger for recognising peaceful communities like ours — and the women within them — who have quietly lived this truth all along.
We are ready to share stories, legal models, education frameworks, and community ethics documentation.
In hope, truth, and solidarity,
Vincent Marty
Founder – NaturismRE (Naturism Resurgence)
Sydney, Australia
www.naturismre.com