May 7, World AIDS Orphans Day

[Guest guest]

NEW YORK, April 20 In a global effort to call attention to the plight of

millions of children orphaned by AIDS and all orphans and vulnerable children,

mayors from 207 cities in 32 countries, including more than 40 in the U.S., have

proclaimed May

7, 2006, World AIDS Orphans Day (WAOD).

(see http://www.worldaidsorphansday.org for complete list).

This is the fifth observance of World AIDS Orphan Day, an initiative

begun by Albina du Boisrouvray, president of Francois- Xavier

Bagnoud (FXB) International -- http://www.fxb.org -- a non-profit

organization (NGO) based in Geneva that supports the world's orphans

and vulnerable children left in the wake of the AIDS pandemic.

In the U.S., where more than 40 mayors will proclaim the day, the

mobilization effort focuses on the complete implementation by

President W. Bush of historic legislation, the Assistance for

Orphans and Other Vulnerable Children in Developing Countries Act of

2005 (OVC), signed into law by the President in November 2005.

The legislation was introduced by U.S. Senators Lugar (R-

Ind.) and Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) and U.S. Representatives Henry

Hyde (R-Ill.) and Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), and represents bold

bipartisan action to stop the suffering of millions of children

orphaned by diseases of poverty, particularly AIDS, and made

vulnerable by poverty, conflict and other causes.

The OVC Act was championed by Global Action for Children (GAC), a

broad coalition of humanitarian, religious and citizen advocacy

groups which is urging the U.S. mayors, Members of Congress and

other elected officials to support the new Act.

The activities of the May 7 Coalition (leading US, African and

Indian NGOs) include child-lead forums, organizing " circles of

friends " across the U.S and Africa, rallies, drama presentations,

lobbying with mayors and government officials, town hall meetings,

hosting a gala with international dignitaries in major cities,

developing interactive websites and media tools, and conducting

radio and television campaigns.

The global theme of WAOD 2006 is to urge governments to fulfill the

commitments made at the UN in 2001 to fund programs to deal with the

world's AIDS crisis, and their actions will be reviewed at a special

UN session, May 31 - June 2, 2006.

In India On May 7th. " Candlelight Processions " will be carried out in memory of

Children who died because of AIDS.

Throughout the 35 States and Union Territories of India, candlelight

processions will be organized in honor of orphans and vulnerable

children who died because of AIDS.

To mobilize communities throughout the country, FXB India Society

organizes a national campaign, entitled « Candlelight Processions ».

Organized in addition to its local and regional activities, this

campaing invites communities, especially children, to participate in

a march in memory of orphans and vulnerable children whose lives

have been considerable shortened because of AIDS.

These processions are organized to both underline the need to

recognize the suffering of these children and to highlight the

urgency of caring for those still evolving suffering from extreme

the need to take care of those who are still alive but live in

extremely precarious situations.

For more information on WAOD, and to find out what is happening in

your area, contact Don Casey, 718-237-9173, Communications Director,

FXB USA.

http://www.usnewswire.com/

http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=64248

http://www.worldorphansday.org/en/index.php

[Guest guest]

Dear Forum.

Why HIV children are neglected? Because they cannot make lobby or nor advocate

for policy changes. They are really very vulnerable, the real victims of the

epidemic. Once they get the virus, they cannot transmit. Mortality in children

is 3 times more than in adults. Projects for children are not priority anymore.

Now, politicians put the Orphan AIDS day, as an attempt to raise the issue about

children. I am agree with Vineeta Gupta, that the worst face of the epidemic is

hold by the children, and nobody wants to see the issue.

As a individual working with HIV I feel very commit to push for changes, however

sometimes I feel alone, like them.

Love

Dr Caravotta

lizandre 37 building

opposite Heena stores

St Jhon Baptist road

Bandra MUMBAI INDIA

E-MAIL: <jorge.caravotta@...>