UN conference on population and development concludes in Colombia

A UN conference on population and development concludes today.

The Fifth Session of the Regional Conference on Population and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean took place in Colombia and brought together regional authorities, international organizations, and civil society to discuss topics such as migration, indigenous peoples, and population aging.

The summit evaluated the advancement of the Montevideo Consensus on Population and Development which sets priority action on population and development. The forum also served as a platform for governments to showcase their national progress and elevate existing challenges and priorities.

The most immediate challenges the region faces regarding population and sustainable development are migration and territorial inequality. Latin America’s migration has sprouted in the last few years. As consequence, in the short term, member countries are expected to push for more cooperation on migration. The main challenge for this, however, is the political division in the region at the executive level. While some countries are expected to promote greater cooperation, others are expected to have a tougher stand as the increase in migration puts stress on their financial capacities. In the long term, countries are also expected to address the impact of climate change in the region as natural disasters and drought are likely to impact local economies and increase the number of people displaced by the climate crisis.