Children and Youth

Children and the youth can be rendered most vulnerable as a result of the child himself being HIV infected, children who are affected by the epidemic because of the loss of a care giver or teacher or because their families or communities are severely strained by its consequences. The rights of children are holistic in nature and have indeed been captured in various instruments both national and international.

The right to health is central and HIV/AIDS impacts so heavily on the lives of all children that it affects all their rights- civil, political, economic and cultural. The rights in the general principles of conventions include the right to non discrimination, the rights of the child to have his or her interest to be of primary consideration, the right to life, survival and development and the rights to have her/his views respected and this as aids law project should therefore be the guiding themes in the consideration of HIV/AIDS at all levels of prevention treatment, care, and support.