Caribbean authorities including government officials and members of civil society met in Bridgetown, Barbados, August 25-27 to discuss matters relating to sustainable development in the Caribbean.

The meeting was organized by UNFPA to give participants the opportunity to discuss the unique challenges faced by the English and Dutch Speaking Caribbean that impact sustainable development; and to identify and make recommendations on priority areas for action to achieve sustainable development.

Issues relating to people’s well-being and resilience, population growth, population ageing and decline, as well as migration and urbanization and their impact on the region’s efforts to ensure universal access to health, education, housing, sanitation, water, food and energy were high on the agenda.

The regional meeting was held within the context of the ICPD beyond 2014, post-2015 development processes and the sustainable development goals agenda, and took place ahead of the second Regional Conference on Population and Development. This will take place in Mexico from October 6 to 9.