Publications on Children

This document provides a strategic framework to assist national and local planners, implementers, and donors in setting priorities, and outlines the steps necessary to develop responsive care and support programs for orphans, children affected by AIDS and other vulnerable children.

AIDS is now the greatest threat to child development in many parts of the world. In responding to HIV/AIDS, however, the children affected by the epidemic, especially those indirectly affected, are too often the forgotten ones. There is already a significant body of literature on the care and support of children living with HIV/AIDS, but most of this focuses on children in developed countries.

It is generally agreed upon that failing to address the issues of PMTCT (prevention of mother-to-child transmission) dramatically increases the morbidity and mortality among children affected by HIV/AIDS. Thus, PMTCT has become the priority worldwide for reducing the numbers of HIV-infected children.

On behalf of the UN Regional Taskforce on Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV, UNICEF EAPRO convened the 3rd Regional Taskforce meeting on 7-8 March 2001 in Bangkok.