Children

The health and well-being of women, children and adolescents are central to building peaceful, sustainable and inclusive societies. This is why in 2010 the then United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, launched Every Woman Every Child, a global movement to mobilize and intensify action by governments, multilateral organizations, the private sector and civil society to address the major health challenges facing women, children and adolescents around the world.

Showing his support for these efforts, on 21 April United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres became the third and senior Co-Chair of Every Woman Every Child, alongside the President of Chile, Michelle Bachelet, and the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Hailemariam Desalegn. The announcement was made at a meeting of the Every Woman Every Child steering group, held on the margins of the spring meetings of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund.

Every Woman Every Child unites its partners to deliver on an integrated agenda for women’s, children’s and adolescents’ health and well-being. It also puts into action a Global Strategy for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health, a road map to ending all preventable deaths of women, children and adolescents within a generation and ensuring their well-being.

The core partners of Every Woman Every Child include the H6 (UNAIDS, the United Nations Population Fund, the United Nations Children’s Fund, UN Women, the World Health Organization and the World Bank Group), the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health, the Global Financing Facility in support of Every Woman Every Child and the Every Woman Every Child Innovation Marketplace.

Over the past seven years, the movement has galvanized ambitious action and coordinated efforts across sectors. Since 2015, more than 60 country commitments and 150 multistakeholder commitments totalling more than US$ 27 billion have been made by the partners of Every Woman Every Child to deliver on the promises of a sustainable future for all by 2030.

Child marriage is widespread across much of Latin America and the Caribbean, accounting for around 23% of marriages in the region, despite laws against it.

The impact of child marriage and early unions (where one of the members is aged below 18 years of age) on girls and their societies can be devastating. Evidence shows that there is a strong link between child marriage and early unions with child pregnancy, maternal and infant mortality, lower education levels for girls and lower ranking on the human development index. And child marriage and early unions make girls more vulnerable to contracting sexually transmitted infections, including HIV.

At a high-level side event co-hosted by the Permanent Missions of Panama and Guatemala to the United Nations in collaboration with UN Women, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and UNAIDS, lessons learned and programmatic and policy options to address child marriage in Latin America and the Caribbean were presented.

In the event, which took place on 17 March at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, United States of America, during the sixty-first session of the Commission on the Status of Women, the participants recognized that child marriage and early unions are a violation of human rights and are a grave threat to the lives, health and future development of girls.

The event focused on the importance of supporting legislative reforms to raise the legal age of marriage to 18 and promoting programmes to empower girls and young women.

The event identified successful approaches and strategies for reducing the rates of child marriage. For example, Panama—where an estimated 26% of girls are married before the age of 18 and approximately 7% before the age of 15—has reformed its national legislation on the legal age of marriage. The minimum legal age for marriage in Panama is now 18 years, as is the age of consent. Previously, with parental permission girls aged as young as 14 years and boys aged 16 years could marry. In Guatemala, thanks to advocacy actions led by UN Women, civil society and international cooperation, reforms to the civil and penal codes have been approved to increase the minimum age for marriage to 18 years.

Since 2015, UNAIDS has partnered with UN Women, UNICEF, UNFPA and PAHO/World Health Organization in a joint initiative on eliminating child marriage and early unions that supports government actions to ensure that, throughout their life cycle, the multiple needs of girls and women are recognized and guaranteed.

UNAIDS is working with countries to eliminate gender inequalities and all form of violence and discrimination against women and girls by 2020, as outlined in the 2016 United Nations Political Declaration on Ending AIDS.

On 5 December, health ministers from nine African countries joined UNAIDS, the United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and other development partners in Geneva, Switzerland, to demonstrate their leadership in ending AIDS among adolescents and preventing new HIV infections among children by 2020.

The nine ministers attending were:

• Isaac Adewole, Minister of Health, Nigeria.
• Abdourahmane Diallo, Minister of Health, Guinea.
• Bernard Haufiku, Minister of Health and Social Services, Namibia.
• Peter Kumpalume, Minister of Health, Malawi.
• Mantoetsi Liteboho Mohatonyane, Vice-Minister of Health, Lesotho.
• Sarah A. Opendi, Minister of State for Health, General Duties, Uganda.
• Salomon Nguema Owono, Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Equatorial Guinea.
• Mouzinho Saíde, Vice-Minister of Health, Mozambique.
• Sibongile Simelane, Minister of Health, Swaziland.

Representatives of the Governments of Cameroon, Kenya and Zimbabwe also participated.

The meeting, co-convened by Michel Sidibé, UNAIDS Executive Director, and Deborah Birx, United States Global Aids Coordinator and Special Representative for Global Health Diplomacy, aimed to identify the opportunities in, and possible barriers to, implementing the new Start Free, Stay Free, AIDS Free framework. The framework builds on the legacy of the Global Plan towards the elimination of new HIV infections among children by 2015 and keeping their mothers alive—which contributed to a 60% reduction in new HIV infections among children in the 21 high-burden Global Plan countries between 2009 and 2015—to accelerate the end of the AIDS epidemic among children, adolescents and young women.

The meeting participants included Jean-Marie Ehouzou, African Union Ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, and Mark Dybul, Executive Director of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. The participants also included key technical partners, including representatives of the United Nations Children’s Fund, the World Health Organization and the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, as well as representatives of civil society organizations, including Angeline Chiwetani, from the Widows Fountain of Life, Zimbabwe, and faith-based organizations.

The need to assess gaps and challenges at the country level, so that domestic and international resources can be identified to overcome the challenges, was stressed. The ministers were encouraged to demonstrate their continued commitment as champions of Start Free, Stay Free, AIDS Free, mobilize resources and scale up effective responses.

Start Free Stay Free AIDS Free focuses on accelerating progress towards ending new HIV infections among children, finding and treating children, adolescents and mothers living with HIV and preventing the cycle of new HIV infections among adolescents and young women. Building momentum to implement the framework will be critical to empowering high-profile advocates, developing linkages between the global framework, national strategies and community agendas and ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.

UNAIDS and the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation hosted a high-level Congressional briefing in the United States Senate to increase momentum around an ambitious Super-Fast-Track framework—Start Free, Stay Free, AIDS Free. The initiative, which was launched by UNAIDS, the United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and partners in June 2016, outlines a set of time-bound targets to reach in order to stop new HIV infections among children, prevent new HIV infections among adolescents and young women and ensure access to antiretroviral treatment.

The Start Free, Stay Free, AIDS Free initiative builds on the progress made under the Global Plan towards the elimination of new HIV infections among children by 2015 and keeping their mothers alive (Global Plan). The Global Plan made a major contribution to a 60% reduction in new HIV infections among children since 2009 in the 21 countries in sub-Saharan Africa most affected by the epidemic. Speakers highlighted the need to keep up the momentum, warning that complacency could reverse the important gains that have been made.

Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of UNAIDS, brought attention to the need to increase access to treatment for children. He said that despite the treatment scale-up for children, which has grown twofold in the past five years and resulted in a 44% reduction in AIDS-related deaths among children, one in two children living with HIV still does not have access. Without immediate access to treatment, about 50% of children infected at birth will die by age 2.

Senators Edward Markey and Benjamin Cardin, honorary co-hosts of the briefing, and Congressman James Himes referred to the commitment of the American people through PEPFAR, and the important results that have been achieved through the strong partnerships with the countries most affected by the epidemic. Monica Geingos, First Lady of Namibia, expressed appreciation for the support of PEPFAR and UNAIDS in Namibia, and emphasized the need for continued engagement to address challenges related to HIV prevention, inequality and harmful gender norms. Namibia is a leader in the response to HIV and one of six countries—together with Botswana, Mozambique, South Africa, Swaziland and Uganda—that have reached 90% or more of pregnant women living with HIV with life-saving antiretroviral medicines.

Deborah Birx, United States Global AIDS Coordinator and Special Representative for Global Health Diplomacy, presented data illustrating dramatic recent achievements in stopping new HIV infections among children, and described evolving epidemic dynamics that demand new approaches so that the next phase of the response is successful in addressing the needs of the largest generation of young people the world has ever seen.

Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Anthony Fauci, shared an overview of the science behind each pillar of Start Free, Stay Free, AIDS Free, showing that the world has the tools required to achieve the targets. Further innovations in treatment and prevention science hold the promise of accelerating the response by making commodities and services easier to access and use, and overall more effective.

Speaking in his capacity as a board member of the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, former Senator Christopher Dodd reflected on the bipartisan political commitment behind PEPFAR and the courage demonstrated by a number of elected officials at a time when AIDS was considered to be a difficult and controversial issue. He emphasized that this commitment must be constantly reinforced until the vision of an AIDS-free generation is achieved.

Chinese version of award-winning book is launched at the Opening Ceremony.

BEIJING/GENEVA, 29 July 2016—The China-Africa Children Summer Camp opened today under the theme of “Love in the Sunshine”, bringing together 60 young people living with or affected by HIV from China, Ghana, South Africa and Zimbabwe.

Held on the grounds of the Forbidden City, in attendance at the event were the First Lady of China, Peng Liyuan and the First Lady of South Africa, Tobeka Madiba Zuma as well as the Executive Director of UNAIDS, Michel Sidibé and the Director-General of the World Health Organization, Margaret Chan.    

As dragonflies, a symbol of change and self-reliance, flew into the open square, the First Lady of China welcomed the participants saying it was a dream to bring together children affected by HIV she has long championed in China with young people from Africa.

“I am very happy that we can be here together,” said Mrs Peng.

This is the first time that young people from outside China have participated in the summer camp happening on the side lines of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation.

“We want all children to grow to their full potential and realize their dreams, said Mrs Zuma. “This summer camp offers our children a rare opportunity to visit this beautiful country and to share experiences to inspire and strengthen one another.”

Mr Sidibé brought 16-year-old Julia from Ghana with him up to the stage.

“This is an opportunity to say thank you to all of you for your bravery and let you know that we love you and believe in you,” said Mr Sidibé.

At the ceremony and in partnership with the Chinese media organization, Xinhua News Agency, UNAIDS released a Chinese language version of an award-winning book on HIV for children. The Chinese version of The Bravest Boy I Know was given to participants attending the China-Africa Children Summer Camp in Beijing. The book will become an important teaching aid in schools across China to help children understand the issues surrounding HIV and reduce stigma and discrimination faced by children affected by the virus.

The book is the touching story of two friends, Xiao Ming and Xiao Li and their adventures together. Xiao Ming is living with HIV. The story is illustrated by the renowned artist Sujean Rim. It is the heart-warming tale of facing HIV in a positive way. The original version of the book takes place in Africa and has been distributed widely through the Thank You Small Library system in Africa. 

“This book is a valuable tool to help parents, teachers and carers explain the complex and emotional issues surrounding HIV to children in their care,” added Mr Sidibé. “Every child deserves to feel protected and loved and to experience a childhood free of stigma and discrimination and every child living with HIV must have access to treatment.”    

In 2015, of the 1.8 million children under 15 years of age estimated to be living with HIV worldwide, only half had access to antiretroviral medicines to keep them alive and well. There were 150 000 new HIV infections among children aged 15 and under in 2015.          

The Bravest Boy I Know is also available in English, French and Portuguese and is released together with a factsheet on children and HIV and a discussion guide for teachers and carers.  In September 2015, the book won first prize in the Popular Medicine category of the British Medical Association.

UNAIDS

The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) leads and inspires the world to achieve its shared vision of zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths. UNAIDS unites the efforts of 11 UN organizations—UNHCR, UNICEF, WFP, UNDP, UNFPA, UNODC, UN Women, ILO, UNESCO, WHO and the World Bank—and works closely with global and national partners towards ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030 as part of the Sustainable Development Goals. Learn more at unaids.org and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

Two innovative technologies for early infant diagnosis of HIV newly prequalified by WHO will allow many more infants to be diagnosed quickly and placed on life-saving treatment.