Westport, CT (November 30, 2005)

Save the Children President and CEO Charles MacCormack.

“More than 500,000 children died last year from AIDS-related illness. Nearly 15 million children have lost a parent to AIDS and that number is expected to climb to 25 million by 2010.

“Behind these numbers, AIDS has a child’s face. Millions of children, most of whom live in sub-Saharan Africa, are the most vulnerable victims of the disease. As their parents get sick or die of AIDS, children must bear family responsibilities, forcing them to drop out of school to work, look for food, or take care of the sick or their siblings.

“While the situation may seem hopeless, it isn’t. Communities in countries hardest hit by the AIDS crisis are mobilizing in different ways to offer care and support to these children. On the ground, Save the Children works with these communities to help children go to school, learn income-earning skills, and ensure they get adequate protection, food and health care, and support to cope with the grief and trauma of losing one or both parents to AIDS. But, it will take global leadership and commitment to help these communities meet the needs of children affected by HIV/AIDS, which are growing.

“During the past year we have seen unprecedented worldwide attention drawn to the fight against global AIDS. From Live 8 concerts to the G-8 Summit, people showed their leaders they care about these issues, and our leaders are paying attention.

“The G-8 leaders pledged to double international assistance to poor countries, including countries in Africa, by 2010. Congress recently approved $2.8 billion for HIV/AIDS for next year’s budget – the largest amount ever allocated by Congress for HIV/AIDS. They have also passed legislation that requires 10 percent of HIV/AIDS money to be used for programs for orphans and other vulnerable children, and that mandates the U.S. Government create a special advisor’s position on the needs of these children.

“This is a good start. But, more voices are needed to make sure our leaders follow through on their promise to children coming out of the G-8, and to let our leaders know that Americans support even greater efforts to fight global AIDS.

“Americans have a historic opportunity, and the scale of federal funding to fight AIDS and for schools, health care and support for children orphaned and affected by AIDS ought to match the scale of the problem. Only our voices joined with local action can give these children back their childhood and raise their chances for a future.

“On this World AIDS Day, we ask Americans to make a promise - to lend their voice to the fight against extreme poverty and global AIDS by joining Save the Children and 1.5 million Americans in the ONE Campaign.”

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