World AIDS Orphans Day (WAOD). 7th May

[Guest guest]

3000 Children will Paint their Dreams on the Canvas on 7th May, World AIDS

Orphans Day

New Delhi, May 06, 2009 -- (Business Wire India)

In India, 3000 children and youth will take part in national level painting

competition to celebrate World AIDS Orphans Day (WAOD). The event is being

organised by FXB Suraksha, which is primarily supported by FXB International.

WAOD was initiated in 2002 by Albina du Boisrouvray, President and Founder of

FXB International, to bring attention to the millions of children left in the

wake of the AIDS pandemic.

This year the theme of the competition is `My Dream'. Among the participants

there are children from schools, slums and even children affected by HIV/AIDS.

The painting competition aims to provide a platform for children to express,

share and establish their feelings and ideas. This platform is also used to

educate children about their rights as listed in the UN Convention on the Rights

of the Child.

Almost every country has agreed to these rights and India is one of them.

It has been estimated that globally every 15 seconds, a child loses a parent to

AIDS. AIDS orphans are most vulnerable towards the HIV pandemic. They face the

risk of finding themselves without shelter, stigmatized and exposed to disease

as well as to all forms of violence and exploitation. To bring the plight of

these hapless children to the notice of all, and to mobilize attention of

governments and communities, FXB launched a global movement to celebrate 7th May

as World AIDS Orphans' Day.

Why honour World AIDS Orphans Day (WAOD)? Because more than 25 million children

worldwide have lost one or both parents to AIDS. Behind the statistics are

millions of stories of children suffering. The AIDS orphans crisis has a

catastrophic impact on households and communities – deepening poverty and

exacerbating hardship.

The extended family remains the only safety net for most affected children.

Households are usually overwhelmed and are often unable to meet Children's most

basic needs.

Mr. Kofi n, the former UN Secretary General, had offered his personal

support to this campaign. In 2002, Albina du Boisrouvray presented then United

Nations Secretary-General Kofi n with a symbolic safety net containing

signatures of two million people around the world urging government to act now

to effectively address the needs of millions of HIV/AIDS orphans and vulnerable

children.

Since then, the celebration of 7th May as the World AIDS Orphans' Day has gained

support from various countries, and prominent leaders and communities from

several states in India.

Providing care to AIDS orphans and vulnerable children as a part of their

inherent rights has been a key message emphasized by the movement all over the

world. The Day is observed in most of the states in the country, and a few of

the states have issued official Gazette Notifications recognizing the day.

FXB India Suraksha is a non-profit section 25 company working for the rights of

Children and their families affected by HIV/AIDS. Mr. Gourisankar Ghosh, CEO FXB

India Suraksha, states that " many of these children which FXB Suraksha works

with are deprived of protection, support and love, without household stability

or educational opportunity.

These children often face malnutrition, discrimination, abuse and HIV

infection. " The overall strategy of FXB Suraksha is the practical implementation

of the inextricable link between Health and Human Rights in the daily lives of

its beneficiaries through an integrated approach of income-generation activities

with health, nutrition and education support particularly to orphans and

vulnerable children.

The theme for WAOD 2009 is " 20th anniversary of the Convention of Child's

Rights " and " FXB's 20 years of support for AIDS orphans and vulnerable

children. "

For further information, visit www.fxbsuraksha.org and www.worldaidsorphans.org

We would be glad to facilitate an interaction with Mr. Gourisankar Ghosh, IAS

(Retd.), CEO of FXB India Suraksha and the India representative of FXB

International, Mr. Javid Chowdhury, the former Union Health Secretary, who is a

Director on the Board of FXB India Suraksha on this issue with your

representative.

Vijay Sharma, General Manager- Advocacy, Communications & External Relations,

FXB India Suraksha,

+91 (120) 4751900,

vsharma.fxb@...