Facts On HIV/AIDS Crisis And Child Labour
Posted in The World At Large on October 19, 2006 by Queen Ebong
The HIV/AIDS pandemic adds a new and tragic dimension to the problem of child labour in many countries around the world. Millions of children have been orphaned by the death of one or both parents from HIV/AIDS. Millions more will be.
Many of these orphans find security in the households of relatives. Others, however, drop out of school and look for work to survive. An especially harsh burden is placed on girls, who often have to provide care and household services for the entire family when a parent becomes ill or dies. Even children cared for by grandparents or other relatives may have to work to help provide income for guardians and siblings.
High mortality among adults in their reproductive and productive prime (15-49 years) and the number of children growing up without a responsible guardian have complex inter-generational impacts on the world of work. With a lack of adult mentors and limited prospects for schooling, children miss out on the developmental skills and technical know-how needed to access decent work in their adult lives.
The impact of HIV/AIDS on communities and families undermines the process of socialization of children in its broadest sense, inverting care-giving roles and giving rise to social exclusion and loss of identity.
HOW THE HIV/AIDS CRISIS LINKS TO CHILD LABOUR
The HIV/AIDS crisis has a number of links to child
labour, for example it:
•Adds to the number of vulnerable children,
especially orphans and HIV-infected children;
•Increases demands on public and private
services, such as health care;
•Increases the burden on community groups and
institutions assisting both caregivers and
vulnerable children;
•Places an especially harsh burden on girls, who
often must provide care and household services
for the entire family;
•Puts pressure on children to work to assist their
parents, guardians and siblings in securing a
livelihood.
In addition, child labourers are more at risk of becoming infected by HIV/AIDS because they are often working in situations where they are vulnerable to sexual abuse.
This is particularly the case of children engaged in the worst forms of child labour, such as prostitution, street vending, and domestic work. Given their high proportion in prostitution, girls are especially at risk of becoming infected and further spreading the disease.
Key factors that increase a child’s Vulnerability to trafficking
Queen Ebong
