Child Rights in the Context of HIV/AIDS

Despite the National Policy for Children in India (1974), children do not have a voice in the adult world. Many children are rendered vulnerable due to HIV/AIDS either acquired vertically or due to their own risk. The right to health is central to all humans. However, HIV/AIDS affects the lives of the children so much that it threatens to rob them of all their rights-civil, political, economic, social, and cultural. Recent studies conducted among adolescents who were born with HIV, or who contracted HIV after sexual exposure, have seen the link between HIV and sexual or reproductive health. National AIDS Research Institute (NARI) conducted a study on Adolescent Reproductive and Sexual Health (ARSH) education among children, during which they expressed their need for correct information on ARSH issues, a need contrary with the prevailing notion that giving such information may impact them negatively. As regards the HIV-infected children, if they got this virus from their mothers, they tended to grow up over-protected, often without being told that they have HIV. Many lack basic information about sexuality and reproduction until late adolescence. Another ongoing study among HIV-infected children throws light on gender issues and their needs for education and leisure. These two studies stress the need to have the child’s own views respected. We discuss child’s right to preventive health care, sex education, the consideration of HIV/AIDS at all levels of prevention, treatment, care and support, right to education and life.