Stigma, discrimination and violence against homosexuals and other people who have same-sex relations, also known as homophobia, and against transgender, transvestite or transexual people, also known as transphobia, are hindering the efforts to curb the HIV epidemic in Latin America and the Caribbean, a group of United Nations (UN) agencies said today, in anticipation of the observation of the World Day against Homophobia (May 17).

Tobacco control advocates will launch an appeal for governments around the world to require pictorial warnings on cigarette packs and other tobacco packaging to graphically illustrate the sickness and suffering caused by tobacco use. The call to action will come on the eve of World No Tobacco Day, May 31.

PAHO Briefing Friday May 22 on Influenza Epidemic

Dr. Jon K. Andrus, Pan American Health Organization, will brief the media on the influenza A(H1N1) outbreaks on Friday, May 22, at 2:00pm, at PAHO headquarters in Washington, DC. Briefing will be by Phone-In and in person.

Transmission through Ellluminate: http://new.paho.org/pressconference
Webcast (no interaction): http://new.paho.org/webcasts

May 5, 2009—While the vast majority of confirmed cases of influenza A(H1N1) have been in the Northern Hemisphere, a top Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) expert today cautioned that Southern Hemisphere countries should remain on high alert, as their winter season is just now beginning.