In India, 3000 children and youth will take part in national level painting competition to celebrate World AIDS Orphans Day (WAOD). The event is being organised by FXB Suraksha, which is primarily supported by FXB International. WAOD was initiated in 2002 by Albina du Boisrouvray, President and Founder of FXB International, to bring attention to the millions of children left in the wake of the AIDS pandemic. This year the theme of the competition is ?My Dream?. Among the participants there are children from schools, slums and even children affected by HIV/AIDS. The painting competition aims to provide a platform for children to express, share and establish their feelings and ideas. This platform is also used to educate children about their rights as listed in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Almost every country has agreed to these rights and India is one of them.
It has been estimated that globally every 15 seconds, a child loses a parent to AIDS. AIDS orphans are most vulnerable towards the HIV pandemic. They face the risk of finding themselves without shelter, stigmatized and exposed to disease as well as to all forms of violence and exploitation. To bring the plight of these hapless children to the notice of all, and to mobilize attention of governments and communities, FXB launched a global movement to celebrate 7th May as World AIDS Orphans? Day.
Why honour World AIDS Orphans Day (WAOD)? Because more than 25 million children worldwide have lost one or both parents to AIDS. Behind the statistics are millions of stories of children suffering. The AIDS orphans crisis has a catastrophic impact on households and communities ? deepening poverty and exacerbating hardship. The extended family remains the only safety net for most affected children. Households are usually overwhelmed and are often unable to meet Children?s most basic needs.
Mr. Kofi Annan, the former UN Secretary General, had offered his personal support to this campaign. In 2002, Albina du Boisrouvray presented then United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan with a symbolic safety net containing signatures of two million people around the world urging government to act now to effectively address the needs of millions of HIV/AIDS orphans and vulnerable children. Since then, the celebration of 7th May as the World AIDS Orphans? Day has gained support from various countries, and prominent leaders and communities from several states in India. Providing care to AIDS orphans and vulnerable children as a part of their inherent rights has been a key message emphasized by the movement all over the world. The Day is observed in most of the states in the country, and a few of the states have issued official Gazette Notifications recognizing the day.
FXB India Suraksha is a non-profit section 25 company working for the rights of Children and their families affected by HIV/AIDS. Mr. Gourisankar Ghosh, CEO FXB India Suraksha, states that ?many of these children which FXB Suraksha works with are deprived of protection, support and love, without household stability or educational opportunity. These children often face malnutrition, discrimination, abuse and HIV infection.? The overall strategy of FXB Suraksha is the practical implementation of the inextricable link between Health and Human Rights in the daily lives of its beneficiaries through an integrated approach of income-generation activities with health, nutrition and education support particularly to orphans and vulnerable children.
The theme for WAOD 2009 is ?20th anniversary of the Convention of Child’s Rights? and ?FXB?s 20 years of support for AIDS orphans and vulnerable children.?