OAS committed to fight HIV/AIDS.AT THE CARIBBEAN Summit on HIV/AIDS HIV/AIDS Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome , held in January, OAS OAS See: Option adjusted spread Assistant Secretary General Albert R. Ramdin said the pandemic poses "a threat to the development, social stability, and human security of the Caribbean." He reaffirmed the OAS commitment to keep this issue high on its political agenda. "The Organization of American States Organization of American States (OAS), international organization, created Apr. 30, 1948, at Bogotá, Colombia, by agreement of Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, has a stake in seeing progress in the fight against the spread of HIV/AIDS in the region, in continuing to support human security, development and democracy in the Caribbean," Ramdin said at the conference held in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. The event, hosted by the Inter-American Economic Council About The Council The INTER-AMERICAN ECONOMIC COUNCIL is a Non-Profit Corporation Established in August of 1999. The Purpose of the Council is to provide senior Government Officials, leading Business Executives, and Academic Professionals the opportunity to engage in a dialogue , brought together Caribbean health ministers, members of the U.S. Congressional Black Caucus Congressional Black Caucus, organization of African-American members of the U.S. House of Representatives. Founded in 1970, it addresses legislative concerns of African Americans and other minority citizens, such as employment, welfare reform, minority business , and representatives of international organizations, among others, to examine the economic impact of AIDS on the Caribbean. Ambassador Ramdin talked about AIDS in the context of human security. The 2003 Declaration on Security in the Americas, he said, takes into account the need to protect individuals and society against all types of threats that would keep them from reaching their full potential in a democratic society. "Today, when we speak of rights, freedoms, and democracy as stipulated in the Inter-American Democratic Charter The Inter-American Democratic Charter was adopted on 11 September 2001 by a special session of the General Assembly of the Organization of American States, held in Lima, Peru. , we must also focus on the development and security of the individual," Ramdin said. The Caribbean region faces the highest level of threat from HIV/AIDS in the Western Hemisphere, and its younger population is particularly at risk, he said, adding that the loss of human capital will also affect countries' social security systems and economic base. The Assistant Secretary General stressed that the OAS, through its Inter-American Commission of Women, has been focusing particular attention on the impact of HIV/AIDS on women and families. "We are working to improve our collaboration with regional governments, international partners, health-care providers, nongovernmental actors, and other civil society partners," he said. Ramdin encouraged the Caribbean countries to work with the OAS and the Pan-American Health Organization Pan-American Health Organization, inter-American health organization. It was established in 1902 as the International Sanitary Bureau; the present name was adopted in 1958. Its members include all the Latin American nations, Canada, and the United States. (PAHO) to address these issues. --OAS Press and Communications |
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