Future possibilities for civil society participation in CPD
In the Conference room paper (E/CN.9/2021/CRP.1) for the upcoming session of the Commission on Population and Development (CPD54) from 19-20 April, a number of suggestions were put forward for civil society’s future participation in the work of the Commission.
Member States reiterated their support NGO engagement in its work, with many delegates expressed support for their “meaningful participation” during the general debate as well as in thematic discussions. They also called for greater private sector involvement. (para 31) Several countries supported an increased role in the technical preparations of the annual session, suggesting that NGOs be invited as observers to the informal consultations on draft proposals. (para 32)
Some countries proposed holding a multi-stakeholder forum or other dedicated civil society events before or during the annual session, as currently is the practice with the Commissions on the Status of Women (CSW) and Social Development (CSocD). (para 33)
NGOs were given the opportunity to express their views in a session with the Commission Chair, Ambassador Yemdaogo Eric Tiare (Burkina Faso). They also called for their full and effective participation in the annual session, highlighting concrete opportunities for partnerships, as contained in chapter 15 of the Programme of Action, which had yet to be realized. In addition they drew attention to other fora, including the Human Rights Council and high-level meetings of the General Assembly, where civil society participation was more prominent than in ECOSOC organized events. In some fora, NGOs had been consulted on the outcome document. They also made the suggestion to hold a dedicated, half-day dialogue between Member States and NGOs in advance of the annual session. (para 34)
Calls were made by some NGOs for expanding the civic space in the Commission for women, youth, feminist and faith-based organizations, as well as for persons of African descent, indigenous women and girls, persons with disabilities, and other marginalized groups. (para 35)
NGOs suggested possibilities for organizing side-events without being sponsored by a Member State, as was already the practice in the CSocD. These events could be included in calendar of side events maintained by the Secretariat.
Equitable geographic distribution of NGO representatives in the annual session was also mentioned, with NGOs stressing the importance of the availability of simultaneous interpretation in all six United Nations languages. (para 36)