1 December 2005 in southern Sudan, children are wearing 'Unite for Children, Unite Against AIDS' T-shirts. UNICEF/Sudan 2005/Georgina Cranston
All over the world, millions of people are marking
World Aids Day
on 1st December.
HIV affects children’s rights in a number of different ways.
The right to a family: Children lose parents because of AIDS-related illness.
Around 17.5 million children have been orphaned by HIV, with more than 14 million in sub-Saharan Africa. That’s more than all the children in the UK.
The right to survival and development: Children get HIV.
Everyday, more than 1,000 children under the age of 15 contract HIV.
The number of people living with HIV is most clearly on the rise in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. It is estimated that over half of these new infections are caused by injecting drug use, and young people account for a considerable number of these infections.
The right to the best possible health: Children with HIV don’t get the treatment they need.
Only 15% of children living with HIV in West and Central Africa receive treatment
Most children with HIV do not receive the life-saving medicine they need. This is partly because very few child-friendly treatments have been developed . You can learn more about this issue in the following animated story of the Patent Pool.
Not enough attention is being given to preventing HIV spreading further among young people around the world.
Worryingly, only 30 per cent of young men and 19 per cent of young women in developing countries have full and correct knowledge about HIV and how to prevent themselves from being infected.
What can we do?
Since UNICEF launched the UNITE for Children UNITE against AIDS campaign in 2005 , we have been working tirelessly in countries where education and awareness are desperately needed to overcome the stigma and ignorance which surrounds HIV and to help provide care and support to children affected by HIV and AIDS.
In 2005, only 75,000 children with HIV received treatment. Today, thanks to your fundraising efforts, UNICEF provides life-saving medicine for over 275,000 children and young people.
However, despite these achievements, there is still so much that needs to be done – with your help, we can continue to fight for children affected by HIV and AIDS.
Started on 1st December 1988, World AIDS Day is about raising money , increasing awareness , fighting prejudice and improving education. World AIDS Day reminds us that HIV has not gone away, and that there are many things still to be done.
Watch George’s story from Kenya about how he found out he was HIV positive.
Find Out More:
- Learn more about HIV and AIDS with this helpful factsheet from AVERT
- Download the TAGD peer education pack and organise an assembly or class presentation , letting your friends know the facts about HIV and AIDS.
- Read about Footballing legend Ryan Giggs' recent trip to Sierra Leone where he witnessed first hand UNICEF’s efforts to educate the nation about HIV and AIDS.
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Ask you MP to allow companies to adapt existing HIV medicines to make them suitable for children.