“Real change does not come from the efforts of a few”: reflections of a UN youth delegate

In April, I attended the 59^th session of the Commission on Population and Development (CPD) at the United Nations Headquarters.

My role as a Youth Delegate was to participate in official sessions and related events, advocating for the UK government’s priorities on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) in addition to Plan International’s longstanding commitment to supporting youth participation in global forums.

A collective effort

I was fortunate enough to work closely with two other young people as part of Plan International’s delegation: the returning UK Youth Delegate and an advocate from Plan International Pilipinas. Together, we came up with several youth priorities which later informed the UK statement, such as tackling digital infrastructure gaps and technology-facilitated gender-based violence.

We couldn’t have done this alone. In the months leading up to our departure, we attended sessions delivered by Plan International UK’s SRHR team, which allowed us to build our knowledge in preparation for CPD in a safe, youth-led environment. It was through the team’s guidance and mentorship that we were able to grow alongside each other as young advocates and upcoming leaders in our own right. After all, young people’s impact is only as strong as the support networks we have. Or, in other words, the people who can open doors to the rooms that young people like me have always dreamt of entering.

Such is the case for me. I’d dreamed of working in world affairs since I was 14. At 20, I stepped foot into the UN Headquarters for the first time. In that six-year period, I can’t even count the number of opportunities I’ve been given simply because other people saw the potential in me – before I could even see it in myself – and were kind enough to extend a helping hand.

The need for transnational, intergenerational dialogue

I was reminded once again of how important it is to share power between generations while attending the Plan International CPD side-event convened by the returning UK Youth Delegate. Here, I asked the panellists what was the best way to communicate to governments the urgency of prioritising SRHR in a world characterised by multiple ongoing crises. The event reaffirmed how necessary transnational, cross-sector dialogue is.

Given that the theme of CPD59 was population, technology and research in the context of sustainable development, bringing young people into these conversations is particularly salient. My generation grew up alongside technology, yet we seldom have any say in how technology is harnessed to either bridge or widen existing inequalities. Algorithms are rarely built for or by young people. The same can be said for many of the policies and programmes shaping our futures.

Sharing power and knowledge

Throughout my time in New York, I felt inspired by the efforts of my fellow young advocates who fought tirelessly to have our voices heard both within and beyond the conference room. A shining example was when I hosted a youth breakfast at the UK Mission, which included a session led by the ICPD Youth Platform that educated us on the CPD negotiation process.

Sharing power and knowledge is what drives robust, meaningful progress – cultural and generational differences aside. Advancing human rights and sustainable development requires global, intergenerational collaboration. Throughout my time at the UN, I kept wondering why world leaders found it so hard to do just that. Maybe they could learn a thing or two from young people on what it means to set aside their pride and self-motivations to collectively work towards building a better world.

Resisting the global rollback of gender rights

When delivering the UK statement, I said that real change does not come from the efforts of a few but from action across society, and in acknowledging how contemporary rollbacks on the rights of women and girls reflect a broader struggle against prevailing norms around gender and sexuality. Nowadays, a certain coalition of actors are hellbent on coopting language that was once used to drive progress to instead push back against it. Language such as “gender equality”, “gender ideology” and “family values” are now used to fuel prejudice towards anyone who doesn’t fit into a patriarchal, heteronormative ideal of how humans ought to live.

As a trans man, I had extra precautions to take while influencing the UN space. It fully dawned on me, then, just how important language is. The terminology on a given outcome document decides whois afforded which rights. That same terminology is then subject to relentless negotiation – even the term ‘sexual and reproductive health and rights’ is up for debate, including any terms that fall under it.

Ensuring universal access to SRHR must be done by bridging the gap between language and lived experience. Agreed language must account for the realities of marginalised groups, such as women, girls and LGBTQ+ people, before it can serve as the foundation for progressive, equitable and inclusive policies and programmes.

It starts with me and you

Like last year, CPD59 ended without consensus. Two consecutive years without an agreed outcome is a worrying trend for multilateralism. What’s most concerning is not the impact on the UN as an institution, but the impact a lack of an agreed outcome will have on the people whose lives depend on the decisions resulting from these multilateral forums.

Yet it doesn’t end or even start at the UN. Progress begins when ordinary people are given the information and tools necessary to start advocating for what they need to live a safe, autonomous and dignified life. That’s how I began my journey from being just another small child with big dreams to who I am today, representing myself and my country on the world stage.

We don’t need to wait for those in charge to have their wake-up call. It starts with me and it starts with you; no matter where you’re from or what stage of life you’re at. What matters is that we choose today, and everyday onwards, that real change starts within ourselves and the communities we’re part of. That, if we work together, real change can benefit us all.