HIV and AIDS

Victor Brott

Children and young people have a vital role to play in response to HIV/AIDS, both to ensure that their current needs are met and that they are prepared as the future generation of adults. HIV/AIDS is a pandemic not only with medical impacts, but also economic, legal and psychosocial consequences. As such, responses must be holistic and integrated to benefit the most vulnerable groups to HIV/AIDS, which are often children and young people, including children orphaned by AIDS, and the poorest of the poor.

There are already 15.2 million children orphaned by AIDS world wide. An estimated 6000 young people become infected with HIV every day. An estimated 25 million children could be orphaned by AIDS by 2010.
 
Without the protection of a parent or carer, children orphaned by AIDS are particularly vulnerable to property snatching, physical and sexual abuse, inadequate access to appropriate healthcare or education. The failure by donors and governments to co-ordinate their different departments responsible for law, social welfare, education and health means that children are not receiving the protection they need. Without support, these vulnerable children will be denied the opportunity to realise their full potential.

In Plan’s experience, it is clear that children have the capacity to contribute to solutions for HIV/AIDS.  We have therefore started to build their capabilities into our long-term work with communities affected by HIV/AIDS. Children’s participation in responses to HIV/AIDS also has clear benefits to all members of communities - a community fit for children is a community fit for everyone.

Find out more

Circle of Hope policy briefing
Download Plan's policy briefing for protecting children in a world with HIV and AIDS (PDF, 41kb)

Evidence to UK Parliament on Children Orphaned by AIDS
Plan UK presented evidence of our experience working with communities and children affected by HIV and AIDS to the UK Parliament’s Select Committee on International Development

Voices of Hope for HIV and AIDS
Find out more about how Plan is helping those affected by HIV and AIDS

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