PAHO/WHO and ICPD beyond 2014: five key health messages for the Regional Agenda on Population and Development

The PAHO/WHO revised and updated its Regional Agenda on Population and Development, PAHO/WHO reconfirms its commitment to achieve health equity for all women and men in the Americas, without discrimination due to sex, gender identity, ethnicity, age, area of residence, socioeconomic status or other condition. This paper details the following five key health messages for the Regional Agenda on Population and Development: 1. Gender equality and women's empowerment are good for the health and well-being of diverse population groups; 2. gender is a structural determinant of health; 3. there is an unfinished agenda to promote motherhood, reducing maternal morbidity and mortality that requires attention to equity, gender equality and reproductive rights; 4. the health sector must play an increasing role in the preventing and mitigation the harmful health effects of sexual and gender based violence; 5. sex and gender matters in the current epidemiological transition from communicable diseases to non-communicable diseases (NCDs).