The plight of children living in households affected by HIV represents remains “the missing face” of the global AIDS pandemic, an international conference in Dublin heard today.
In an address to the Global Forum on Children Affected by HIV and Aids taking place at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham, UNICEF executive director Ann Veneman said children in the developing world living in households affected by the virus were often forced to drop out of school to care for sick relatives or to engage in paid work when a breadwinner falls ill.
She said the needs of these children needed to be addressed through social protection.
Cash transfers and other social welfare instruments may alleviate poverty, improve school attendance and nutritional intake, she said.
Taoiseach Brian Cowen also addressed the two-day conference which is being co-hosted by the Department of Foreign Affairs through Irish Aid, the Government’s overseas aid programme, and UNICEF.
Mr Cowen said: “All the evidence points to broad social protection and welfare approaches as a means of mitigating the impact of HIV on children.
He said: “Our own history of social policy and protection, with the introduction of pensions and allowances, demonstrates the importance of these instruments in responding to household and child poverty,”
More than 200 delegates from 42 countries attended the forum which aims to brings together government leaders, NGOs and the United Nations to review progress, set priorities, and make commitments for children affected by HIV and AIDS.
