India Government, NGOs Adopt ‘Delhi Commitment’ To Protect, Support Children Affected by, Vulnerable to HIV/AIDS

Indian government ministries and nongovernmental organizations in New Delhi on Thursday after a two-day national consultation on children affected by and vulnerable to HIV/AIDS adopted a "comprehensive" national policy recommendation to protect, care and provide support for such children, the Hindu reports (Hindu, 3/31). The "Delhi Commitment" is aimed at strengthening existing policies and seeks to guide new developments and establish a coordinated approach to helping children, according to Webindia123.com (Webindia123.com, 3/31). During the opening of the meeting -- which was organized by India's Department of Women & Child Development, UNICEF and the National AIDS Control Organization -- Loveleen Kacker, the joint secretary of DWCD, said India currently is formulating several programs and a new law under the national action plan that would protect vulnerable children (UNI/Navhind Times, 3/29). In endorsing the agreement, India's Ministries of Human Resource Development and Health & Family Welfare, U.N. agencies and faith-based groups "rededicated themselves" to helping families provide protection and care for AIDS orphans and children vulnerable to HIV/AIDS, according to the Hindu (Hindu, 3/31). According to UNAIDS estimates, there are about 170,000 HIV-positive children under age 15 in India, where about 5.1 million HIV-positive people live. There are no estimates on the number of children indirectly affected by the disease (Newindpress.com, 3/29).