World AIDS Campaign 1997

On 1 December 1997 , World AIDS Day is commemorated for the 10th time. Today, the global community is called upon to show their solidarity with people living with HIV infection and to remember, through reflection and active involvement, all those individuals who have already died of AIDS.

This year, World AIDS Day is the culmination of the first World AIDS Campaign which was launched in June. The theme of the campaign, 'Children Living in a World with AIDS' , puts the focus on the youngest and often most vulnerable members of society. Children, defined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child as all human beings under the age of 18 years, are increasingly touched by the epidemic. Children are affected directly, by risking or acquiring HIV infection, and indirectly, by suffering from the effects of HIV/AIDS on parents, siblings and friends. It is estimated that well over 1000 children worldwide are now becoming infected with HIV every day.

In organizing this year's World AIDS Campaign, UNAIDS and its partners have aimed to increase understanding of the magnitude and global dimensions of the HIV/AIDS epidemic and its impact on children, their families and their communities, and to strengthen the international response to these concerns. In this effort, UNAIDS has been supported and advised by its six cosponsors (UNICEF, UNDP, UNFPA, UNESCO, WHO and the World Bank) and by the Francois-Xavier Bagnoud Center for Health and Human Rights of the Harvard School of Public Health, the Children and AIDS International NGO Network, the NGO Group for the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and PANOS. The campaign has been a joint collaborative effort to maximize resources and increase outreach and effectiveness.

'Children Living in a World with AIDS' reminds everyone of us that although progress has been made in the fight against HIV, the epidemic increasingly affects all members of the global community. The campaign has raised the world's attention to the issue of protecting young girls and boys from the devastating effects of the epidemic on their lives. Today, all children of the world face a lifetime threat from HIV. Children are exposed to the risk of HIV infection at all different life stages, very early on through mother-to-child transmission, and later through adverse circumstances such as sexual exploitation and abuse, or the violation of their human rights to information, education and services. Children who are infected are vulnerable and often face discrimination. Children orphaned by AIDS can easily fall into a vicious circle of poverty, discrimination and HIV infection risk.

Hope comes from better understanding and an increased awareness of how children and young people are both infected and affected by HIV/AIDS. Promoting children's rights, providing information to young people on the risks of transmission and methods of prevention, educating on issues of sexual health and making reproductive health services and counseling available, have been shown to be effective ways of raising awareness, changing behaviour and triggering action.

Many activities undertaken during this year's World AIDS Campaign have concerned children that live in the shadow of HIV risk. Projects have been launched to care for children orphaned by AIDS and to support them within their communities and family networks. Outreach campaigns for street children informed and educated on HIV/AIDS issues and provided support. Mobilization and sensitization of the general public regarding the risk of HIV infection and the effects of HIV/AIDS on children and young people has also been a focus. Other efforts have concentrated on increasing the understanding of human and children's rights issues in HIV/AIDS and, in parallel, of HIV/AIDS issues in human and children's rights initiatives. Many have included the participation of children themselves in events such as regional workshops and theatre festivals or, for example, children organizing their own radio programmes and discussing HIV/AIDS issues. People and communities around the globe have become involved in the campaign and in their respective ways have contributed significantly to raising awareness about children living in a world with AIDS.

On this day, we want to remember all those directly affected by the epidemic, especially young girls and boys. We also want to thank everybody who is supporting efforts to prevent transmission of HIV and protect all children from the devastating effects of HIV/AIDS on their lives. We invite the global community to join ranks with us and continue this work together in the years to come.