The Latin America and the Caribbean Code Against Cancer sets out a series of preventive measures that everyone can take to contribute to cancer prevention. It consists of 17 recommendations based on the most recent solid scientific evidence and adapted to common scenarios in Latin America and the Caribbean. These recommendations are not legally binding nor are they presented in order of importance. The 17 public policy recommendations are based on internationally accepted consensus recommendations and provide a unique public health tool to guide and support governments in the implementation of their cancer control strategies.

In addition, the Latin America and the Caribbean Code Against Cancer has a free-of-charge online competency-based microlearning programme for primary health care professionals in the region. This programme contains about 25 modules related to each of the 17 recommendations of the Latin America and the Caribbean Code Against Cancer, plus additional topics, organized according to the competencies of “knowledge”, “decision-making”, “health professional–patient communication”, and “application of knowledge to real situations”.

The project to develop the Latin America and the Caribbean Code Against Cancer has been led by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), an agency of the World Health Organization (WHO), and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and is part of the World Code Against Cancer Framework. This IARC-led initiative aims to promote cancer prevention worldwide through the development and dissemination of cancer prevention recommendations specific to each region of the world (Regional Codes Against Cancer), while maintaining a common methodology and consistency. The Latin America and the Caribbean Code Against Cancer is the first Regional Code under this World Code Against Cancer Framework, adapted to the context and needs of the Latin America and the Caribbean region, considering the region’s specific risk factors, cancer burden, social inequalities, and health systems.

During the two years of this project, more than 60 experts from Latin America and the Caribbean have been involved. For the development of all the components of the Latin America and the Caribbean Code Against Cancer, independent experts in epidemiology, cancer prevention, health promotion and behavioural change, and public health and public policy were convened in 5 working groups . To formulate the recommendations, the experts took into account the latest available scientific evidence and were supported by the Iberoamerican Cochrane Centre/Research Institute of the Hospital de Sant Pau (Spain), which was in charge of updating the scientific literature according to the methodology of the World Code Against Cancer Framework. The drafting of the recommendations was agreed with experts in behavioural research and communication and validated in the general population of five countries in Latin America and the Caribbean (Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Peru, and Puerto Rico). All contributing experts were asked to work independently and to be guided only by their expert opinions, not by the position of any organization or institution. The experts were also asked to declare any real or perceived conflicts of interest related to the topic. The scientific rationale for the recommendations of the Latin America and the Caribbean Code Against Cancer and the relevant evidence is explained in scientific papers written by the working groups.

The overall independent scientific oversight and final approval of the recommendations was carried out by a Scientific Committee, which was composed of high-level researchers with a leading role in cancer prevention and control and/or public health in their respective countries. This project has also had an Advocacy Group formed by representatives of influential institutions in cancer prevention and control in Latin America and the Caribbean. The IARC/PAHO Secretariat of the project was composed of IARC researchers and PAHO advisors.