SAY YES FOR CHILDREN CAMPAIGN in GEORGIA
"FIGHT
HIV/AIDS"
THE WOMENAID CHILD RIGHTS & WELL-BEING CENTRE together with the CHILDREN & YOUTH PARLIAMENT GEORGIA are holding a Round Table Dialogue “Fight HIV/AIDS” on Monday 2 July at the Children & Youth Parliament Conference Hall, 2nd Floor, from 14.00– 17.00 h.
This Round Table Dialogue is organised in the framework of the Say Yes for Children Campaign, which was launched in Georgia on June 1st, International Children’s Day. The meeting offers an important opportunity to members of civil society actively involved in the promotion of child rights, and the Georgian government, to engage in constructive and open dialogue on ways to protect children and youth from HIV/AIDS. The Agenda is attached.
SPEAKERS
INCLUDE:
Mrs Tsisana Shartava Deputy Head, AIDS and Clinical Immunology Centre
Topic: HIV/AIDS Situation in Georgia
Dr Nino Kiladze
Health Specialist/Trainer, WomenAid
International-Caucasus
Topic:
Impact
of HIV/AIDS on Girls and Women
Mrs Isa Bodokia
Director HIV/AIDS Patients Support Foundation
Topic:
Supporting
HIV/AIDS Affected Children and Youth
Dr
Keti
Nemsadze
Director
Claritas
Topic: HIV/AIDS Patients' Rights
Mr
Archil
Undilashvili
Member
Children
and
Youth
Parliament
Topic: Youth Participation in Fighting HIV/AIDS
Chaired by Ms Mariam Jashi Ass. Programme Officer-Health, UNICEF
The
twin epidemics, HIV and AIDS – are taking their human toll in a world that has
avoided facing or understanding the scale of the impact of HIV/AIDS upon
children. HIV/AIDS continues to spread in many countries of Europe and Central
Asia, greatly affecting those under 18 years of age and increasingly girls. In
Georgia, liberalisation from traditional sexual taboos has resulted in increased
sexual activity of adolescents. Changes in sexual behaviour along with economic
hardships have also contributed to the emergence of child prostitution,
previously quite unacceptable in Georgian society. Ignorance among youth
regarding safe sexual behaviour and sexual transmitted diseases is widespread
however. This low level of awareness is very disturbing as there has been a
significant increase in those living with HIV and dying from AIDS.
Inaction to tackle the spread of HIV/AIDS has been based on a perception
that it is a problem largely of young intravenous drug users. The HIV epidemic
is a silent emergency and its invisibility has given rise to some false hope
that tragedy could be averted.
Who Cares ?
Children and youth with HIV and suffering from AIDS are at special risk of being victims of discrimination, and are in need of, and have the right to, special protection, inclusion and participation. Traditionally women are the care providers, but AIDS affects more women than men and at a younger age. As the AIDS epidemic advances the burden on the remaining women to provide care will increase. Older women, the grandmothers, the widows, who are usually the poorest of the poor within communities are now struggling to provide care to orphans in may parts of the world. The Georgian government, non-governmental organisations and communities need to take action and together develop effective national and in international information and risk-awareness programmes to fight against the HIV/AIDS pandemic; provide special assistance to children orphaned by HIV/AIDS; and support the psycho-social care of children infected with HIV and suffering from AIDS.
The Global Movement for Children and The Say Yes for Children Campaign
The Global Movement for Children and The Say Yes For Children Campaign aim to encourage and inspire every individual and every organisation to invest in children by doing all they can for and with them. The call of the Global Movement for Children is to change the world with children; to listen to children, to reach out to them and to enable them to participate in the decision-making processes that affect their lives. The Global Movement seeks to influence the commitments made by world leaders at the Special Session on Children and hold them accountable for the agreements that they will reach. The Say Yes for Children is a global pledge campaign through which adults and children around the world are speaking out on 10 imperative actions necessary for improving the lives of children. Fight HIV/AIDS is the fourth principle calling to protect children and adolescents and their families.
One of the central activities of the WomenAid Child Rights & Well-being Centre is to facilitate and encourage collaboration using the WomenAid Network Platform Concept to encourage and maintain cross-sector inter-action and sustainable dialogue between government, law enforcement bodies, human rights and women’s NGOs, media, and health and education professionals. The issue-focused Network Platforms, Round Table Dialogues and publications contribute to policy reform, gender sensitive development and support empowerment of women and children goals by creating the connecting link at national, regional and international levels on critical issues involving or concerning women and children. The Child Rights & Well-Being Centre is a WomenAid International ‘Children of the World Initiative.’
Children and Youth Parliament Georgia
The Children and Youth parliament of Georgia was elected in the year 2000 for two years. The Parliament is the first and biggest forum for children and youth in Georgia. There are 166 deputes from every region of Georgia represented in the Parliament. The purpose of the Parliament is active youth participation in building civil society, familiarising youth with democratic institutions, incorporating the participation of youth in state youth policy, and developing and supporting awareness among young people about parliamentary affairs. The Children and Youth parliament assists children and youth in solving their problems and defending their rights, supporting circulation of the CRC in the whole of Georgia, and working on the development of a law on self-authorities in schools. The Parliament organizes activities such as conferences, concerts, regional meetings, charity activities, and co-operates with NGO’s, working on children and youth issues.
WomenAid and the Youth Parliament hope you will want to participate in this Round Table Dialogue and express your support to the Say Yes for Children Campaign.
We look forward to welcoming you to this important meeting
For
more information please contact:
WomenAid International-Caucasus
Tel/Fax: (995 32) 37 92 70 or E-mail: waigeo@access.sanet.ge
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