Célestin Compaoré, coordinator of the association SOS Jeunesse et Défis and Burkinabe member of Alliance Droits et Santé, participated in a UN commission for the first time this year. He agreed to briefly discuss the major issues at stake in these negotiations, as well as his participation in this international forum.
Equilibres & Populations: This year marked the 50th session of the CSD, with the theme "Changing population age structures and sustainable development." In your opinion, what are the major challenges of this session in terms of addressing issues related to population and development?
Celestin Compaoré: This session was above all an opportunity for countries to reflect on issues of demographic dividend and population growth. To this end, topics such as sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and comprehensive sexuality education must be on the agenda. This session is also an opportunity to see how nations can implement policies that benefit young people, in line with national, regional, and international commitments, particularly on the issue of the link between reproductive health and sustainable development.
Equipop: What specific role can West African countries play in the negotiations?
C.C.: During UN negotiations, African countries negotiate as a group, known as the "African Group." This group, like the European Union or the "Arab Group," carries significant weight in negotiations because it represents a large number of countries. Unfortunately, West African countries are often under-represented in negotiations and in the African group's preparatory meetings. It also appears that African countries sometimes hold a different position at the UN than the position of their capitals, for example on SRHR. This is probably due to the fact that diplomats can be far removed from the realities of their countries, particularly with regard to promoting SRHR or improving access to reproductive health services for adolescents and young people.
Equipop: What role has West African civil society played this year? What can be done in the future?
C.C: There is a real place for West African civil society in UN negotiations such as the Commission on Population and Development. During the commission, civil society can play a supporting and explanatory role with national delegations. On this year's topic, it was important to talk about national realities (needs and policies) in terms of SRHR and the real problems faced by populations, with the aim of harmonizing understanding between capitals and permanent missions to the United Nations. Civil society can also play a role in supporting decision-making, particularly if it participates in the African group's discussions and negotiations: by explaining what comprehensive sexuality education entails, for example, it can help people understand the importance of this issue and dispel misconceptions.
In the future, it is important for civil society to participate in the African Group's negotiations ahead of the committees. It is at this stage that explanations and realities on the ground related to SRHR can be useful to permanent representations. One could imagine a meeting between civil society and the permanent representation to present the situation in the country and explain a few important points related to the theme of the year, for example. Finally, I believe that themes such as this year's, "Changing population age structures and sustainable development," may require the participation of someone from the Ministry of Health, particularly those responsible for family planning and population issues. Accompanied by civil society, these individuals could influence the definition of the African group's position.
Equipop: What did you learn from participating in the CPD?
C.C.: I learned how diplomacy and international negotiations work. I got closer to my country's diplomatic representation and established contacts that will be valuable in the years to come. My participation in the CSD also gave me the opportunity to take part in exchanges between NGOs working to promote SRHR. Together, we coordinated our efforts to maximize our influence on the decisions taken by different countries.
Equipop: Finally, how will this participation impact your work back in Burkina Faso?
C.C: In addition to gaining a better understanding of the link between population issues and sustainable development, this experience has given me a real insight into the role of civil society in promoting SRHR. I will strive to involve new civil society actors in these UN processes by sharing my findings and establishing a mechanism for monitoring the commitments made at the CSD at the national level.
