2nd National Conference on Orphans and Other ... - FHI 360

tance of proper co-ordination can never be overemphasised.
Further, we keep saying that the
extended family has disintegrated, but it hasn’t
and it never will. These are the people still caring
for orphans. We find very very few orphans in
institutions, so where are the 2 million in Uganda,
the 1 million in Zambia, the 800 000 in Malawi,
the 1,3 million in Zimbabwe ... if not with the
extended families? The extended family merely
faces a lot of stress. It is to extended families that
we need to direct resources, and this is where
the challenge lies. How do we direct resources
to where they are needed in the communities
and households?
SLIDES 9-12: CRITICAL POINTS RAISED
IN COUNTRY PRESENTATIONS
The extended family remains the first and
most effective safety net for OVC, but it is
increasingly overburdened.
Identifying children orphaned by AIDS is
extremely difficult, and the value of this is
unclear – it could increase stigmatisation.
Not all orphans are vulnerable; some nonorphans
are very vulnerable.
Children’s vulnerability begins when their
parents are ill.
Lack legislative framework to protect OVC
or institutional grounding for interventions
for OVC.
Each country needs to develop a strategic
plan.
Free access to education and health-care
services must be assured for OVC.
We need to train teachers so they know how
to deal with HIV/AIDS-affected children.
We need to work collaboratively in networks
– exchanging information makes all the
difference.
Traditional and customary law issues (e.g.
early girl child marriage) complicate the
definition issue.
Should we have specific programmes for
orphans, or complementary programmes for
OVC?
What are the appropriate roles for institutional
care (orphanages)?
OVC themselves must be part of the
response.
Governments, communities, CBOs, NGOs,
FBOs and private sectors have different roles
to play in a scaled response.
Policies and legislation relating to children
are contradictory, outdated and inconsistent,
and they do not cover new threats to children
affected by HIV/AIDS.
Little effective implementation, limited
sanctions for contravening, and no monitoring
systems.
Harmonisation of national policy and
legislation with international treaties and
conventions.
Harmonisation and consolidation of existing
policies and legislation within each country.
Monitoring system to oversee implementation
and compliance.
Commentary: The issue of identifying orphans
is being considered in Namibia. The role-players
should bear in mind that apart from the stigmatisation
this could encourage, it could also
marginalise other children who feel left out. In
this regard it is also extremely difficult to identify
QUOTATIONS FROM PRESENTATIONS TO THE REGIONAL WORKSHOP
(ADDITIONAL SLIDE)
Children prefer to stay together (with their siblings) and live without an adult rather than
be separated and live with adults. – Côte d’Ivoire
Kids want to know their parents’ status so they can care for their parents, so they can
prepare for later … . – Côte d’Ivoire
Donors make use of terms that we would rather not use, but we have to use these terms to
get the funds. When we go to the communities we do not use the term “AIDS orphans” ... .
– Burkina Faso
<strong>2nd</strong> <strong>National</strong> <strong>Conference</strong> on Orphans and Other Vulnerable Children – Windhoek, Namibia, 25-27 June 2002: Full Report
49