The survey showed there was no evidence that sex education leads to earlier or increased sexual activity in young people.

Executive director of the WHO Global Programme on AIDS Dr. Michael Merson said: "Infections among young people are driving this epidemic.

"The belief that sex and AIDS education may encourage sexual activity in young people is a powerful barrier to the introduction of HIV prevention programmes for youth.

"Yet, all the evidence we have looked at suggests that the opposite is true.

In fact, we believe that giving children and young people information about sexuality and the need for safe practices, helps them protect themselves from HIV infection.'' Minister of Health Social Services and Housing the Hon. Quinton Edness also encourages parents, teachers and especially teenagers to be up front about sex education.

"I am pleased that the World Health Organisation has put this message out as a recommended policy in the fight against AIDS,'' Mr.

Edness said.

"It is encouraging that the policy is backed up by scientific studies which show that a fully active sex education programme in the schools reduces promiscuous sexual activity among teenagers and at the same time teaches them how to protect themselves.

"I would hope that persons in Bermuda, particularly parents and teachers, will also understand from this statement, that the use of condoms is an option to protect young people along with postponing their first sexual activity.'' a new report released on World AIDS Day last year, showed that in 35 studies: Sex education increased the adoption of safer sexual practices in sexually active youth; Sex education led either to a delay in starting sexual activity or a decrease in overall sexual activity; Access to counselling and contraception did not encourage earlier or increased sexual activity; and Other studies showed neither an increase nor decrease in the levels of sexual activity.

A WHO press release stated that the most recent study reviewed sampled 1800 teenage boys in the US aged who were aged between 15 and 19 in 1992.

It found the majority of them had received formal instruction on AIDS, birth control, and resisting pressure for sexual intercourse.

This was associated with a decreased number of sexual partners, frequency of intercourse and increased condom use.

The findings are considered particularly important because, based on currently available data, the WHO Global Programme on AIDS estimates that at least half of all HIV infections to date worldwide have occurred in people aged between 15 and 24.

More than one billion people -- one fifth of the world's population -- are in this age range.

The WHO advises a range of options that can be offered to young people includING postponing first sexual activity and for the already sexually active, the use of condoms or non-penetrative sex.

"In many societies, sex education for children and young adults is one of the most hotly debated and emotive issues facing educationists today,'' Dr. Merson said.

"But, it is time to stop arguing. If we care for out children and young people we must give them the knowledge and the skills they need to make responsible and healthy positive choices when it comes to sex and protecting themselves from the risk of HIV infection.'' Young girls are especially vulnerable to HIV infection. Last year in the US, AIDS cases in women were almost ten percent higher than the year before.

In 1992, for the first time more American women with AIDS were infected through heterosexual sex than through injecting drugs.

This is particularly disturbing considering the average ten-year time lag between initial HIV infection and the onset of AIDS, the WHO said.

The trend in AIDS cases seen today reveals a pattern of infection a decade ago. Today, HIV infections in American women are likely to be much more common than the AIDS data indicates, and far more commonly due to sex.

Dr. Merson added: "We could make a real difference and slow down the spread of HIV if we learn to be open and frank with young people.

"Those countries which are the most open about sexuality also tend to have the lowest birthrates and lower teenage pregnancies. And we know that pregnancy rates underestimate the number of occasions on which unsafe sex takes place.

"So clearly, the widespread introduction of well-planned sex education will go far to protect our children from risk of HIV infection now.'' The Hon. Quinton Edness.