he 48th session of the Commission on Population and Development (CPD) took place from the 13^th -17^th of April at the United Nations Head Quarters in New York where the latest demographic changes and the integration of population issues into sustainable development was discussed.Established in 1946,  the Commission is composed of 47 Member States elected by the Economic and Social Council for a period of four years on the basis of geographic distribution.The Commission assists the UN Economic and Social Council to monitor, review and assess the implementation of the Programme of Action at the national, regional and international levels and advice the council thereon.

The world’s population surpassed 7.3 billion in 2015 and is projected to reach 8.4 billion in 2030. With the exception of Europe, all other major regions are projected to grow by at least 10 per cent over the next 15 years.

The theme this year was ‘Realizing the future we want- Integrating populations issues into sustainable development’ and the Bureau was chaired by Ms. Bénédicte Frankinet (Belgium) with vice-chairpersons Mr. Mesbah Ansari Dogaheh (Iran),Ms. Lidija Bubanja (Serbia),Mr. Rubén Armando Escalante Hasbún (El Salvador) and Ms. Christine Kalamwina (Zambia).

The Sri Lankan delegation for the 48^th CPD consisted of  Hon. Minister of Child Affairs, Mrs Rosy Senanayake, Ms. Madusha Dissanayake (Director Advocacy & HIV/AIDS, FPA Sri Lanka) Ms Kumudini Samuel (Women & Media Collective), Ms Sabrina Esufally (Verite Research) and Ms Nirupa Karunaratne (coordinating secretary to Minister of Child Affairs).