World leaders attending a high-level meeting on HIV/AIDS here this week should pay more attention to women and youth, especially those living with HIV and AIDS, and seek their expert advice in responding to the epidemic.

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) welcomes the initiative of ministers of health and education of Latin America and the Caribbean to discuss strategies to strengthen HIV prevention among young people.

Most smokers begin the habit before reaching their 18th birthday, and a quarter of those began smoking before age 10, writes Mirta Roses, director of the Pan-American Health Organization, in this exclusive column for Tierramérica.

CIVICUS is a global alliance, which aims to strengthen and protect citizen action and civil society around the World.  Key to CIVICUS' work is promoting people's fundamental right to organise and act collectively toward the public good. In line with this objective, CIVICUS annually convenes the CIVICUS World Assembly, where over 1000 representatives from citizens' organisations, government, business and the media meet to explore the challenges facing citizens around the world.

This course aims to develop competencies of human resources from governmental and non-governmental organizations to integrate HIV and VAW in prevention, treatment and care intersections, as well as to respond to emerging policy issues regarding both problems.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY APPROVES BY ACCLAMATION THE DECLARATION OF MEDELLIN ON YOUTH AND DEMOCRATIC VALUES. The OAS General Assembly finished its deliberations restating the commitment of the Member States to promote and strengthen youth's values, principles and practices for a life in democracy.