AEGiS-IRIN: Unicef Report Says HIV/AIDS Threatens the Rights of Children

Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2001. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

Unicef Report Says HIV/AIDS Threatens the Rights of Children

UN Integrated Regional Information Networks - September 22, 2001

HIV/AIDS is one of the "cruellest political and social problems in the world," particularly for children, UNICEF reports in its "State of the World's Children 2002," which was released this week in preparation for the U.N. General Assembly Special Session on Children. The assembly, originally scheduled for Sept 19-21, has been postponed because of the recent terrorist attacks on New York City and the Pentagon.

HIV/AIDS is "destroying families, communities and nations," causing life expectancy to "plummet" while AIDS orphans "overwhelm family networks, social services and health care institutions," the report states. One of the goals set forth at the 1990 World Summit for Children was to "improve protection of children in especially difficult circumstances," including children affected by HIV/AIDS.

According to the report, the impact of the disease was "crushing the attempts of countries all over the world to put human development and the rights of women and children first", especially in Southern and Eastern Africa. The report said poverty in the regions had exacerbated the epidemic, illustrating that AIDS was the "most savage index of the inequality of our world". It added that projected child mortality rates for 2000-2005 in Botswana, Zimbabwe and South Africa were equal to or greater than 50 percent, and the southern and eastern regions of the continent had 6.4 million AIDS orphans as of last year. For more on the report: http://www.unicef.org/media/sowc02presskit/fullreport.htm

LINKS:

1. SA Health Info. A comprehensive health information website. www.sahealthinfo.org

2. Soul City. A South African AIDS TV programme www.soulcity.org.za

3. AIDS Information Dissemination Site, Southern Africa. This site has an extensive list of AIDS-related links in southern Africa and around the world. It also includes a discussion forum to which anyone can freely subscribe. http://www2.wn.apc.org/sahivaids

4. CATIE - The Community AIDS Treatment Information Exchange. A site for information on the latest in HIV/AIDS treatment http://www.catie.ca/network.html

CONFERENCES/RESEARCH/ARTICLES:

1. African Journal of AIDS Research is a newly founded journal that publishes papers, which make an original contribution to understanding of the social dimensions of HIV/AIDS in African contexts. AJAR should be of interest to researchers in sociology, demography, epidemiology, psychology, anthropology, media, cultural studies, nursing, health promotion, social work, and economics. Further details: http://www.kabissa.org/kfn/newsletter.php?id=2862

2. UNAIDS Media Handbook For HIV Vaccine Trials. This handbook has been written to enhance the capacity of scientists involved with HIV vaccine trials to develop useful collaborations with the media, and through them, other relevant groups and members of the public." http://www.unaids.org/publications/documents/vaccines/index.html

3. Male Circumcision and HIV Prevention: Directions for Future Research http://www.popcouncil.org/horizons/reports/circumcision/default.html

4. A workshop on management of AIDS in Nigeria is being held from 20-22 September in Lagos. For more information contact Kingsley Ihegworo Telephone: 01 - 2647666 Facsimile: 01-2662300 E-Mail: mergefnm@yahoo.com www.comminit.com/events_cal/2001/108-event.html

5. Making A difference for Children Affected by AIDS: http://www.popcouncil.org/pdfs/horizons/orphansbsln.pdf

JOB OPPORTUNITIES:

1. Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is looking for a Regional Technical Advisor for HIV/AIDS. The top priority for this post is to provide assistance to the South Africa HIV/AIDS Programme Office, which is responsible for programmes in Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa and Swaziland. For more information contact: Dawn Sheckells-CRS@rpc.webhire.com Include req. no. I 01 009 and source code DRUMBEAT.

2. A HIV/AIDS Radio Production Advisor is needed by Media Support Partnership Mozambique. Successful candidate will be Primarily responsible for working with local broadcasters to develop HIV/AIDS radio programming in Sofala, Manica and Tete provinces. Contact: Julia Russell - julia@mediasupport.org Ref: DB_09

3. The International Planned Parenthood Federation is looking for a Africa Regional Director. For more information http://www.comminit.com/vacancy499.html Contact: Dick Irish - leadershipsearch@erols.com Ref: DB_09
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