AIDS still kills children

01.12.2006: statement on HIV/AIDS

	STOP AIDS!

Brussels, 01/12/2006 The report 2006 of UNAIDS, released the 30th May 2006, shows the impact that AIDS is having on the lives of children. Every day there are an estimated 1,500 new HIV infections among children under the age of 15. Fifteen million children have lost one or both parents to the disease.

The world's two billion children and adolescents are at the center of the HIV/AIDS crisis. And yet they are the ones who offer the greatest hope for defeating the epidemic. The IFM-SEI raises awareness about HIV/AIDS prevention aimed towards children and young people in all parts of the world like just happened in the suburbs of Delhi, 19th - 25th November 2006. Children are missing from global awareness, budgets and action on HIV/AIDS, and do not have the services, care, support and knowledge that they need.

Fewer than 5% of HIV-positive children have access to treatment.

Less than 10 % of children who have lost parents to AIDS get public support or care.(UNAIDS)

There is no bigger disrespect of the UN Convention on the rights of the child than question marking children's lives!

Article 6

1. States Parties recognize that every child has the inherent right to life. 2. States Parties shall ensure to the maximum extent possible the survival and development of the child.

Article 24

1. States Parties recognize the right of the child to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health and to facilities for the treatment of illness and rehabilitation of health. States Parties shall strive to ensure that no child is deprived of his or her right of access to such health care services.

2. States Parties shall pursue full implementation of this right and, in particular, shall take appropriate measures:

(a) To diminish infant and child mortality;

(b) To ensure the provision of necessary medical assistance and health care to all children with emphasis on the development of primary health care;

(c) To combat disease and malnutrition, including within the framework of primary health care, through, inter alia, the application of readily available technology and through the provision of adequate nutritious foods and clean drinking-water, taking into consideration the dangers and risks of environmental pollution; ...

The 14th November 2001, the World Trade Organization¹s (WTO)ministerial conference in Doha, Qatar, agreed on a deal for access to medicines: the "Doha Declaration on TRIPS and Public Health”. According to this deal, developing countries would henceforward be allowed to bypass drug patent monopolies that stop the flow of cheap generic medicines from countries like India into regions like Africa. But five years later, according to data published by the World Health Organization (WHO), 74% of AIDS medicines are still under monopoly and 77% of Africans still have no access to AIDS treatment including children. In the Philippines, in Indonesia, in Niger, in Botswana or in Haiti, not a single generic version of antiretrovirals is available in 2006, even though these countries have 8 different anti-HIV molecules on the market: all of these drugs are patented versions that the poor can¹t afford.

Therefore the IFM-SEI underlines the right of every single child to free access to necessary medications and demands the immediate implementation of this right. Making profit on expense of children's lifes means to kill them. Respect children, Respect their rights. Act now!

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