World Vision Urges Governments to Fulfil Commitments to Children in Africa

World Vision UK, a Christian charity has reported on the devastation of children who have been orphaned or made vulnerable by HIV/AIDS in Africa. The charity says that neglect by their own careless governments has been revealed after research has been carried out in four of the worst HIV affected countries, Mozambique, Ethiopia, Zambia and Uganda.

The national governments of the worst affected countries were committed to implement a policy to protect orphaned and vulnerable children at the UN General Assembly Special Session in 2001. However, the commitments are not being honouring and still haven't been met. Stephen Lewis, who is the UN Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa, described the governments' response towards the children as 'unconscionable'.

As orphaned and vulnerable children are missing their education, healthcare and other basic needs, many of them are becoming the victims of property grabbing. The commitment to these children is truly essential and World Vision calls for immediate practical action, both nationally and internationally to provide care and support.

"It is time for all governments and agencies worldwide to take the appropriate steps to counter their plight. What we need now are resources and implementation. That must now be our single-minded focus," added Stephen Lewis.

Around 12.3 million children have been orphaned as a result of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, with millions more having been left 'extremely vulnerable'.

The report also called on the British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, to use the G8 Summit at Gleneagles, Scotland in July to apply pressure on the governments to take the HIV and AIDS epidemic seriously, and to do all they can to support and care for the children whose lives are being devastated.