(SEA-AIDS) ICAAP 2009: Connecting children and youth through the 9th ICAAP
[On HealthDev.net]:
The issues of children infected and affected byHIV/AIDS have long been neglected. Promises and commitments to supportand care for children have always remained in the paper. Turning theminto action seems to be difficult for governments and stakeholders. Weall know that children are the vital assets of our society; they arethe one who can bring glory and pride to our society in the future.Neglecting their issues will have a long term negative impact in allaspect of lives. Equal priority needs to be given to both affected andnon affected children because both are equal in the eyes of the lawand creating a bias between them will be an injustice, especially foraffected children.
Over twenty-five years into the acquired immune deficiency syndrome(AIDS) epidemic, the children in its path remain at grave risk. In2007, it was estimated that 2.1 million children less than 15 yearsold were living with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), 290,000children died of AIDS and 420,000 children were newly infected. Over15 million children under 18 have lost one or both parents to AIDS,and millions more have been made vulnerable. Children affected by HIVand AIDS may experience poverty, homelessness, school drop-out,discrimination, loss of life opportunity, and early death.
HIV and AIDS are brutal escalators of other cruelties which childrenendure. In today's world the majority of people living in poverty arewomen and children. Three quarters of the 24,000 daily deaths (morethan 8 million every year) related to hunger are among those under theage of five (The Hunger Project). One hundred and twenty millionchildren between the ages of 5 and 14 work in conditions that arehazardous to healthy growth and development (Source: ILO(International Labour Organisation)). Estimates suggest that as manyas 100 million children worldwide are homeless or spend most of theirtime surviving on the streets (UNICEF). Massive populations offamilies with children are displaced and often separated because ofconflict and natural disasters. According to the United Nations ExpertReport on the Impact of Armed Conflict on Children, more than half ofthe near 60 million people displaced by war are children separatedfrom their families. Millions more have been injured, disabled,orphaned and died in armed conflict. Children are used as soldiers andforced to kill; raped by soldiers or made to watch their mothers andsisters being raped and their families murdered. Added to these,children are victimized and trafficked as commodities for sale inlocal and global sexual prostitution and pornography industries.Estimates are that at any time, as many as one million children areinvolved in the commercial sexual exploitation arena every day.(ECPAT, World Congress against Commercial Sexual Exploitation ofChildren). Countless others are physically, sexually andpsychologically abused in what should be the secure confines of theirhomes and neighbourhoods.
Over twenty-five years into the acquired immune deficiency syndrome(AIDS) epidemic, the children in its path remain at grave risk. In2007, it was estimated that 2.1 million children less than 15 yearsold were living with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), 290,000children died of AIDS and 420,000 children were newly infected. Over15 million children under 18 have lost one or both parents to AIDS,and millions more have been made vulnerable. Children affected by HIVand AIDS may experience poverty, homelessness, school drop-out,discrimination, loss of life opportunity, and early death.
HIV and AIDS are brutal escalators of other cruelties which childrenendure. In today's world the majority of people living in poverty arewomen and children. Three quarters of the 24,000 daily deaths (morethan 8 million every year) related to hunger are among those under theage of five (The Hunger Project). One hundred and twenty millionchildren between the ages of 5 and 14 work in conditions that arehazardous to healthy growth and development (Source: ILO(International Labour Organisation)). Estimates suggest that as manyas 100 million children worldwide are homeless or spend most of theirtime surviving on the streets (UNICEF). Massive populations offamilies with children are displaced and often separated because ofconflict and natural disasters. According to the United Nations ExpertReport on the Impact of Armed Conflict on Children, more than half ofthe near 60 million people displaced by war are children separatedfrom their families. Millions more have been injured, disabled,orphaned and died in armed conflict. Children are used as soldiers andforced to kill; raped by soldiers or made to watch their mothers andsisters being raped and their families murdered. Added to these,children are victimized and trafficked as commodities for sale inlocal and global sexual prostitution and pornography industries.Estimates are that at any time, as many as one million children areinvolved in the commercial sexual exploitation arena every day.(ECPAT, World Congress against Commercial Sexual Exploitation ofChildren). Countless others are physically, sexually andpsychologically abused in what should be the secure confines of theirhomes and neighbourhoods.
The roles that children fill as poor, hungry, exploited and abusedhuman beings increase their vulnerability to HIV infection. This canoccur directly through those activities known to be associated withtransmission, or indirectly as occurs when earlier harm turns childreninto vulnerable adults. For example those with a history of childhoodphysical or sexual abuse have also been found in adolescence oradulthood to be more likely than non-abused peers to engage inbehaviours that place them at high risk of HIV infection.
It is well and good that at least young people especially over 15years of age can raise their voices demanding their fundamental rightsthough the case is not similar for orphans and vulnerable childrenbelow 15 years of age affected by HIV. They are inexperienced andcan’t make decisions on their own. Their decision about where to goand what they should do are often made by the adult authority. Theempowerment of children, essential in reversing pervasive inequalitybetween adults and children, needs to be balanced with the necessaryprotection and guidance to which children have a right as part of asafe and healthy development. However, adult authority can result indecisions which are misguided or unrealistic.
Judgments about children based upon adult wishes rather than realitycan lead to decisions that do not serve a child's best interest. Forinstance, in many societies, prevailing attitudes support the ideathat children should be "protected" from information pertaining to sexin order to preserve "childhood innocence". Such attitudes areinconsistent with the realities of life for millions of vulnerablechildren and therefore deprive them of opportunities to understand therisks and dangers they may face. One result of this is that childrenare inadequately taught about sexuality and sexually transmitteddiseases (STD's), including HIV/AIDS, before sexual experiences begin.The factors which make it necessary to provide such education is aproblem many adults prefer to ignore. Children left powerless throughthe denial of sex education are also rendered powerless to protectthemselves from infection in those situations which they are able tocontrol.
It is well and good that at least young people especially over 15years of age can raise their voices demanding their fundamental rightsthough the case is not similar for orphans and vulnerable childrenbelow 15 years of age affected by HIV. They are inexperienced andcan’t make decisions on their own. Their decision about where to goand what they should do are often made by the adult authority. Theempowerment of children, essential in reversing pervasive inequalitybetween adults and children, needs to be balanced with the necessaryprotection and guidance to which children have a right as part of asafe and healthy development. However, adult authority can result indecisions which are misguided or unrealistic.
Judgments about children based upon adult wishes rather than realitycan lead to decisions that do not serve a child's best interest. Forinstance, in many societies, prevailing attitudes support the ideathat children should be "protected" from information pertaining to sexin order to preserve "childhood innocence". Such attitudes areinconsistent with the realities of life for millions of vulnerablechildren and therefore deprive them of opportunities to understand therisks and dangers they may face. One result of this is that childrenare inadequately taught about sexuality and sexually transmitteddiseases (STD's), including HIV/AIDS, before sexual experiences begin.The factors which make it necessary to provide such education is aproblem many adults prefer to ignore. Children left powerless throughthe denial of sex education are also rendered powerless to protectthemselves from infection in those situations which they are able tocontrol.
The second day of the 9th International Congress on AIDS in Asia andthe Pacific (ICAAP) talked and discussed almost nothing aboutchildren's issues. During a symposium about HIV prevention and most atRisk young people, speakers and panelists were talking and presentingabout young people vulnerability to HIV and their needs. What wasmissing in the symposium was discussions and debates on children'sissues. Panelists discussed about the best practices, sexual andreproductive rights, gaps and challenges? of young people. Undeniablythe rights to participation of young people must be meet at all costbut what about the children below 15 years of age who are orphaned byHIV/AIDS? Who can they approach and ask for their rights? At thispoint young people can play a critical role to raise the needs ofchildren because the judgments made by adult authority oftencontradict with the wishes of children. Connecting the issues ofchildren and young people is extremely important and it can bepossible through youth initiative programmes starting right from thisongoing 9th ICAAP.
The problems faced by children are monumental but so is the HIVepidemic which weaves through them all. This social context cannot beignored or neglected in efforts to contain the virus. If success inprevention, treatment and cure is ever going to reach the majority ofthe population of the world affected by HIV/AIDS, then the eliminationof conditions which nurture and strengthen their hold on individualsand communities and which provide obstacles to prevention and caremust be zealously sought. Prevention is usually easier than cure andrecovery not only in matters of physical health but in all ways thataffect the total well being of persons. Opportunities that foster thewell being of a person begin in the uterus and depend on long termsupport from others. This dependency and support must exist throughoutchildhood only diminishing as the child approaches adulthood equippedwith the strengths and skills for independence and self sufficiency.The lifelong well being of a person depends on opportunities for thedevelopment of strengths and skills during childhood.
Ishwarchandra HaobamKey Correspondent
Online at: http://healthdev.net/site/post.php?s=5724
Ishwarchandra HaobamKey Correspondent
Online at: http://healthdev.net/site/post.php?s=5724
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