Over 2 million children under the age of 14 are living with HIV and every year about 160.000 children are newly infected with HIV. Not only are children suffering from the disease, they are often also confronted with the fact that their parents are infected with HIV and die at a very young age.
Children that have been infected with HIV, or children with infected parents, often have to deal with prejudices, exclusion and neglection.
Many obstacles hinder the prevention and care for children and adults with HIV/AIDS. These are mainly cultural, structural and financial. Denial that a problem exists, cultural practices and attitudes, including taboos and stigmatization, poverty, patronizing attitudes towards children, are just some of the obstacles that may block the political and individual commitment needed for effective programs.
Did you know?
- 18 children are infected with HIV every hour.
- There are 1.4 million pregnant women infected with HIV.
- Only 43 percent of the 2.1 million children infected with HIV around the world received antiretroviral therapy (ART).
What does KidsRights do?
The first International Children’s Peace Prize was awarded to Nkosi Johnson. In his short life Nkosi advocated the acceptance of children with HIV/AIDS. Since 2005 KidsRights has been investing in projects that protect these vulnerable children.