Film star Charlize Theron says the world's business and political leaders need to do more in the fight to eradicate AIDS.

She accepted an award Tuesday for her humanitarian work at the opening ceremony of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

Theron, a U.N. Messenger of Peace and founder of an African outreach foundation, says she's impressed by the "brain trust" at the Forum. She says "I feel like I'm getting smarter by osmosis."

But Theron emphasized the devastating effect that AIDS has had on her native South Africa and the entire African continent. "The fight is far from over," she warned.

AIDS and other global health issues are among the strategic concerns of the more than 2,500 political, economic and business leaders meeting at the Davos forum.