title: Population, sexual and reproductive health, rights and sustainable development: forging a common agenda.
abstract: This article suggests that sexual and reproductive health and rights activists seeking to influence the post-2015 international development paradigm must work with sustainable development advocates concerned with a range of issues, including climate change, environmental issues, and food and water security, and that a way of building bridges with these communities is to demonstrate how sexual and reproductive health and rights are relevant for these issues. An understanding of population dynamics, including urbanization and migration, as well as population growth, can help to clarify these links. This article therefore suggests that whether or not sexual and reproductive health and rights activists can overcome resistance to discussing "population", become more knowledgeable about other sustainable development issues, and work with others in those fields to advance the global sustainable development agenda are crucial questions for the coming months. The article also contends that it is possible to care about population dynamics (including ageing and problems faced by countries with a high proportion of young people) and care about human rights at the same time. It expresses concern that, if sexual and reproductive health and rights advocates do not participate in the population dynamics discourse, the field will be left free for those for whom respecting and protecting rights may be less of a priority.
authors.affiliation: Co-ordinator, Population and Sustainability Network, London, UK. Electronic address: kn@populationandsustainability.org.
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Newman
authors.affiliation: Advocacy and Policy Manager, Population and Sustainability Network, London, UK.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fisher
authors.affiliation: Head of Anthropology, Policy and Politics Group, Department of Global Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
authors.forename: Susannah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mayhew
authors.affiliation: Margaret Pyke Professor of Sexual & Reproductive Health, University College London Institute for Woman's Health, London, UK.
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stephenson
mesh_terms: D057231:Climate Change; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D003254:Consumer Advocacy; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D007391:International Cooperation; D008297:Male; D011157:Population Dynamics; D060728:Reproductive Health; D046269:Reproductive Rights; D012725:Sexual Behavior
keywords: advocacy and political process; population policy; post-2015 agenda; sexual and reproductive health and rights; sustainable development