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Protecting
the most vulnerable: Children living with HIV/AIDS
Statement
delivered by Malika Aït-Mohamed Parent, Head, Principles and
Values Department, International Federation, to the Third World
Congress on Family Law and the Rights of Children and Youth, Bath
22 September
2001
Chair,
First of all, I would like to thank the organizer of this Third
World Congress for the tribute you pay to the rights of children
and youth.
Reading the background of the achievements of the World Congress,
I understand that all of us here today share a common concern for
the "family and the present and future generation". It
is in this mindset that my contribution to this session complements
the presentation by my colleague, from a different angle.
How can the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent
Societies address the issue of Children living with HIV/AIDS from
an internal point of view?
I would like to share with you our internal experience called "Break
the Silence". However, before I go into that let me give you
some contextual information.
When people ask us about young people within our organization, they
are often amazed by what they learn. In your opinion, how many young
people are there in Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies? Several
thousands or several millions?
Some estimates suggest that as many as 80% of the Red Cross Red
Crescent volunteers are young people. Youth non-governmental organizations
therefore often consider us to be one of them, although we are,
in their eyes, an atypical network. In short, we form a powerful
network of young people within a singular humanitarian organization,
the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
Did you know that the first efforts to involve young people in the
work of the Red Cross dates back to 1892? It was, however, in 1922
that the "Red Cross Youth Programme" was officially recognized.
1922 is therefore the milestone that marks the foundation of the
Youth Programme within the International Federation.
In that year, only twelve countries actually had a Youth Section
as such in their respective National Societies (the full list includes
Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, United Kingdom, Hungary, New Zealand,
Poland, Switzerland, Yugoslavia, France, Japan, Romania and Sweden).
Several decades have elapsed since that time, and there are a number
of landmark developments that have left their mark on the role played
by young people within the organization since 1922:
1965 - World Red Cross Day for Youth. For the first time
since it was instituted in 1948, World Red Cross Day, celebrated
each year on 8 May, was dedicated to youth.
1971 - the 1st World Red Cross Youth Conference, held in
Mexico, brought together 50 National Societies.
1989 - the Supercamp, held in Solferino in Italy, brought
together 132 National Societies.
1991 - The General Assembly adopted the "Youth Policy
and Strategy".
1994 - first evaluation of the "Youth Policy and Strategy".
Some 80 National Societies reported their involvement in this undertaking.
1999 - Youth Power 99, in Sweden.
Today, in 2001, around one hundred National Societies are directly
involved in youth activities. However, we estimate that just over
150 implement youth programmes either directly or indirectly.
All this may seem a little theoretical, although it does help to
identify tendencies and better understand them.
Why are National Societies so deeply involved in youth activities
"for, by and with young people", in spite of the fact
that we are not a youth organization?
There are many reasons, although the most significant ones are rooted
in our identity and commitment, our Principles and Values.
- The first is our mission and our vision: "to
alleviate the suffering of the most vulnerable" and "to
improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power
of humanity". All too often, young people are an especially
vulnerable group. I am referring here to street children, childhood
diseases, and the many children for whom receiving an education
is difficult or even impossible. I am also referring to children
affected by armed conflicts and to the growing problem of unemployment
among young people.
All of this is undoubtedly a cause of concern to you as individuals
in your respective communities, as citizens in your social environment,
as volunteers in your respective organizations, and, in a broader
sense, as human beings in the community of mankind.
- A second reason that must be mentioned is the strength and
dynamism of young people. The National Red Cross and Red Crescent
Societies are, in essence, what their members -young people
and men and women- make them. National Societies rely on their
young people to meet the challenges they must face day-to-day:
instructing the general public in lifesaving techniques, teaching
children about safety in the home, taking part in large-scale
relief operations, contributing to protecting the environment
and disseminating the Fundamental Principles to ensure they
are better understood and more effectively applied.
In what way would you say the International Federation of Red Cross
and Red Crescent Societies is special when it comes to youth involvement?
The International Federation has chosen to implement a very modern
"Youth Policy and Strategy" (adopted by the General Assembly
in 1991). It takes into account and integrates young people not
only as a vulnerable group, but also as players with a role in the
fight against vulnerability. On this basis, it accepts and encourages
the active participation of young people in the decision-making
process, because the decisions that are taken concern and involve
them. Therefore, because of what they are and what they do, young
people have an important and privileged role to play in the development
of their own National Societies, as of their own communities and
they must be given the opportunity to gain the appropriate skills
and experience.
The so-called traditional youth activities have long been the success
and joy of our organization and have played a large part in heightening
the visibility of our achievements.
Examples that come to mind include first-aid training in schools,
programmes for the dissemination of the Fundamental Principles,
community health programmes aimed at young people, youth camps,
recreational activities carried out by young people in homes for
older people, small-scale mini projects and environmental protection
programmes.
As you know, we have an essential role in tackling both man-made
and natural disasters, and young people also have an important part
to play. In order to fulfil this role effectively, we need well
prepared, appropriately trained people, and we must build up and
reinforce our human resources. This calls for us to open ourselves
up to more young people, facilitating their access and allowing
them to develop within our organization.
New tendencies are emerging, giving rise to a host of new programmes
involving young people. These programmes are often integrated and
linked to each other, for example, programmes for the rehabilitation
of young drug abusers and programmes to combat drug abuse, as well
as programmes to help street children or children affected by armed
conflicts.
In this regard, it is vital when evaluating vulnerability to fully
understand the needs of communities because it is only by meeting
real needs that we are able to take effective action and accomplish
our task, and that we are able to gain visibility and recognition.
This is why National Societies must and do choose to carry out programmes
and activities "for, by and with young people".
Examples that spring to mind include combating AIDS through peer
education, promoting health through environmental protection, fighting
against discrimination by teaching about different peoples and cultures,
and encouraging solidarity by training youth leaders using interactive
and participatory methods, thus reinforcing the capacity of young
people to learn from and share in the experiences of their peers.
Some examples:
Philippines : Red Cross assists 6,000 street children and
trains junior health workers to reach street children and help them
to access essential health, nutrition and social services.
Jamaica : Red Cross has successful peer-education programme
in which more than 7,000 young people have been reached with information
on safe sex.
Ghana : Red Cross has trained 650 youth peer educators who
work at the community level to instruct other youth in HIV/AIDS
awareness and safe sex practices.
In that context, and as part of our internal International Federation
Children and HIV/AIDS approach, National Societies have been invited
to build partnership with young people, through volunteers network
and engage them and their peer opinion setter to disseminate information
on HIV/AIDS prevention and care. This creates access to accurate
information and the skills to use interactive methodologies to work
with and for adolescents.
Of the 233 million people assisted by the International Federation
and its member Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies last year, the
majority were children. Red Cross Red Crescent youth volunteers
represent the powerful humanitarian force and every day, around
the world, these volunteers are making a difference to the lives
of vulnerable children.
As you can understand, in addition to the work already being undertaken
by National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, a commitment to
make a difference has been made by our International Federation
Strategy 2010, recognizing as a core area the "Promotion of
the Movement's Fundamental Principles and Humanitarian Values".
The purpose of this core area is not simply to ensure that people
(staff or volunteers, public or private authorities, or the community
in general) know of these principles and values, but to influence
their behaviour.
The "Break the Silence" experience is one of the facets,
"fighting stigma and discrimination which are contributing
to thousands, if not millions, of deaths and new infections world-wide.
It is becoming clear that a reason for the spread of HIV/AIDS is
the stigma attached to it. This stigma of HIV/AIDS is one of the
most critical issues inhibiting changes in perception and behaviour".
Creativity, enthusiasm, energy, tolerance, respect for others, the
desire to discover, question, listen, and understand, to test, try
out, plan, redo and rebuild, and share with joy, smiles and determination;
these are the qualities and strengths young people possess, whatever
their country of origin or their social, political and cultural
environment.
It is now the turn of these young people to take the floor and give
us an insight into their perceptions and worries, their dreams and
challenges, their convictions and concerns, and the solutions they
envisage for a better world, so that we can all share their suggestions,
their ideas and their know-how.
Dear Friends, I wish to express my best wishes for the success of
this congress. You can be sure that you have the International Federation's
support in the initiative of the International
Children's Rights Protection Network.
Lastly, I would particularly like to extend my sincere and heartfelt
thanks to the representatives of this Third World Congress for organizing
this event and thereby reminding the entire community of the faith
it has in young people.
Thank you
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