CanWaCH delegation at CSW69: Five questions with Nathaniel Allaire Sévigny

The largest annual global gathering on gender equality and women’s empowerment, CSW69 brought together governments, civil society organizations, experts and activists from  March 10 to 21. CanWaCH was pleased to join the session and support the attendance of youth and delegates from organizations across our membership. The following Q&A is part of a series of interviews with members of the CanWaCH delegation. Read all of the delegation’s insights on Write to Thrive.

Why did you want to attend CSW69? What drew you to being part of the CanWaCH delegation?

Attending CSW69 felt urgent and necessary. We are at a critical juncture, marking 30 years since the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. As we mark the anniversary, we are witnessing a troubling global pushback on women’s rights, including the erosion of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). As a member of Médecins du Monde Canada, I was eager to contribute to conversations on how health and gender equality intersect, particularly for women and girls facing systemic exclusion.

Being part of the CanWaCH delegation was a natural fit. CanWaCH’s commitment to collaborative advocacy, rights-based approaches and knowledge exchange aligns with how we operate at Médecins du Monde. I knew this experience would not only allow me to share our field-based realities from Haiti, Burkina Faso, and Benin, but also learn from other advocates and health practitioners working in different contexts. I was especially drawn to the opportunity to connect with other feminist leaders and to bring that learning back to strengthen our collective work in Canada and abroad.

What was a moment at CSW69 that made you stop and think differently about an issue? Did you hear a perspective that challenged your assumptions or changed your mind?

A powerful moment came during a session on youth-led SRHR initiatives in Central Africa, where a young peer educator shared her story. She spoke about how her mother, though loving, was unable to openly discuss sexual health due to cultural norms. Instead, it was her father who became her key ally in creating a safe space for dialogue. Her words,“It’s important because it’s home, you know,” were simple yet profound.

This reinforced my own assumptions about who can and should be engaged in SRHR advocacy. As a sector, we often focus on engaging women and girls directly, but this example was a reminder that true change often requires transforming dynamics within families and communities, including by working with men as allies. It deepened my conviction of how SRHR education must be embedded in both formal and informal spaces, especially in local languages and culturally relevant formats. That story will stay with me for a long time.

If you had to describe CSW69 in three words, what would they be?

Energizing. Frustrating. Necessary.

What surprised you most during your time at the session?

I was both surprised and disappointed by how often grassroots organizations  were underrepresented in the official panels. While many sessions celebrated their work rhetorically and spoke about the need to “amplify local voices,” too few featured those voices directly. It was a stark reminder of how systemic barriers to access, such as visas and funding, continue to exclude the very activists who are leading transformative change on the ground.

At the same time, I was surprised  and deeply moved  by the sheer strength and solidarity of feminists from all corners of the world. Amid political backlash and regressive rhetoric, there was a powerful sense of unity and shared purpose. It reminded me that while progress may be contested, the feminist movement is alive, fierce and growing.

How did being part of a Canadian delegation shape your experience at CSW69?

Being part of the CanWaCH delegation gave the experience a strong sense of community and support. It allowed me to process complex topics in a shared space, exchange insights between sessions and amplify each other’s work.

The diversity of our group, spanning generations, geographies and sectors, meant that I constantly learned from my peers. I was inspired by how everyone brought their own lens to common challenges, whether through research, advocacy, health programming or lived experience.

It also created opportunities to reflect critically on our country’s role in advancing gender equality. That dual global and national perspective was especially meaningful. I left not only with new knowledge, but with stronger bonds across the Canadian feminist ecosystem.

Connect with Nathaniel on LinkedIn here.