November 30, 2012

World AIDS Day - We Care!

World AIDS Day is a great opportunity to get the public talking about HIV and fundraise.
Today is the day  for all of us to learn the facts about HIV.

According to wikipedia AIDS has killed more than 25 million people between 1981 and 2007, and an estimated 33.2 million people worldwide live with HIV as of 2007, making it one of the most destructive epidemics in recorded history. Despite recent, improved access to antiretroviral treatment and care in many regions of the world, the AIDS epidemic claimed an estimated 2 million lives in 2007, of which about 270,000 were children.

There are different numerical  data about  the worldwide effect of HIV infection in children on the internet: no matter how many children are infected - the goal is ZERO!
 
The Rights of the Child in the context of HIV/AIDS

All children under the age of 18 living in today's world - whether they are themselves infected with HIV, affected by AIDS in their households or communities, or living in the shadow of HIV risk - are recognized by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.The United Nations Con-vention on the Rights of the Child in the context of HIV/AIDS has spelled out principles for reducing children's vulnerability to infection and for protecting children from discrimination because of their real or perceived HIV/AIDS status. This human rights framework can be used by governments to ensure that the best interests of children with regard to HIV/AIDS are promoted and addressed:

  •  Children's right to life, survival and development should be guaranteed.The civil rights and freedoms of children should be respected, with emphasis on removing policies which may result in children being separated from their parents or families.                                                
  • Children should have access to HIV/AIDS prevention education, information, and to the means of prevention. Measures should be taken to remove social, cultural, political or religious barriers that block children's access to  these.                                                                                                          
  • Children's right to confidentiality and privacy in regard to their HIV status should be recognized. This includes the recognition that HIV testing should be voluntary and done with the informed consent of the person involved which should be obtained in the context of pretest counselling. If children's legal guardians are involved, they should pay due regard to the child's view, if the child is of an age or maturity to have such views.
  •  All children should receive adequate treatment and care for HIV/AIDS, including those children for whom this may require additional costs because of their circumstances, such as orphans.States should include HIV/AIDS as a disability, if disability laws exist to strengthen the protection of people living with HIV/AIDS against discrimination.
  •   Children should have access to health care services and programs, and barriers to access encountered by especially vulnerable groups should be removed.
  •  Children should have access to social benefits, including social security and social insurance.
  •  Children should enjoy adequate standards of living.
  •  Children should have access to HIV/AIDS prevention education and information both in school and out of school, irrespective of their HIV/AIDS status.No discrimination should be suffered by children in leisure, recreational, sport, and cultural activities because of their HIV/AIDS status.
Special measures should be taken by governments to prevent and minimize the impact of HIV/AIDS caused by trafficking, forced prostitution, sexual exploitation, inability to negotiate safe sex, sexual abuse, use of injecting drugs, and harmful traditional practices. 
Source: The Role of the Committee on the Rights of the Child and its Impact on HIV/AIDS: Problems and Prospects, presentation by the World Health Organization Global Programme on AIDS at "AIDS and Child Rights: The Impact on the Asia-Pacific Region", Bangkok, Thailand, 21-26 November 1995.

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