LIFE SKILLS EDUCATION TOOLKIT FOR ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN IN INDIA• 17
2.Principles to Guide
Programming for Orphans
and other Children Affected
by HIV/AIDS^24The Principles to Guide Programming for
Orphans and other Vulnerable Children promote
actions that are child-centered, family and
community-focused, and human rights-based.
Human rights-based programming, guided by
the United Nations Convention on the Rights of
the Child and other relevant human rights
instruments, is an approach that recognizes that
development is the realization of a set of
universally applicable, inalienable rights. It
recognizes children as bearers of rights. They are
not seen as mere recipients of services or
beneficiaries of protective measures.
The Guiding Principles are to:
- Strengthen the protection and care of orphans
and other vulnerable children within their
extended families and communities. - Strengthen the economic coping capacities of
families and communities. - Enhance the capacity of families and
communities to respond to the psychosocial
needs of orphans, vulnerable children and
their caregivers. - Link HIV/AIDS prevention activities, care
and support for people living with HIV/
AIDS and efforts to support orphans and
other vulnerable children.
5. Focus on the most vulnerable children and
communities, not only those orphaned by
HIV/AIDS.
6. Give particular attention to the roles of boys
and girls, and men and women and address
gender discrimination.
7. Ensure the full involvement of young people
as a part of the solution.
8. Strengthen schools and ensure access to
education.
9. Reduce stigma and discrimination.
10. Accelerate the process of learning and
information exchange.
11. Strengthen partners and partnerships at all
levels, and build coalitions among key
stakeholders.
12. Ensure that external support strengthens
and does not undermine community
initiative and motivation.
Children living in a world with HIV/AIDS are
vulnerable. They may experience discrimination if
they live in a family where an adult is infected or
if they are infected themselves, through the denial
or limitations of their rights to education, health
and social services. Children who are not infected
or do not live with someone who is infected,
must learn how to mitigate the risk of HIV/AIDS
in the future. In this way, HIV/AIDS affects all
children, which is why it is imperative to
safeguard their rights.(^24) See children on the Brink 2002, UNAIDS, UNICEF, USAID; also known as UNICEF Principles to Guide Programming with OVC