PRINCIPLES OF PROGRAMMING FOR CHILDREN
There are ten key cross-cutting principles that should underpin all work with children affected by AIDS and other vulnerable children.
- Rights based. The rights of children should be respected and promoted. Children should be protected from violence, abuse, exploitation and neglect at all times. The best interests of the child must be a primary consideration for actions affecting children. Children should have access to meaningful processes for participation.
- Evidence-based action. Policies and programs for children’s well-being should be evidence based and informed by continuous learning to improve results.
- Gender responsive. All aspects of programming must consider gender issues to make sure that the different needs of boys and girls are appropriately addressed at their various developmental stages. Within HIV/AIDS-affected communities, women and girls often face a disproportionate level of risk and vulnerability, so their needs and rights must be given particular attention.
- Age-specific and inclusive. Support to children must be inclusive and recognize the common needs of all children. But it must also be aware of the needs of those at special risk, such as children with disabilities, children of marginalized groups, and street and working children. Support should also be age appropriate.
- Meaningful and Ethical involvement of children living with and affected by HIV. Children and Adolescents living with and affected by HIV and AIDS should be meaningfully involved in all aspects of programming. Programs and policies involving children should follow a basic set of Ethical Guidelines.
- Culturally sensitive. Activities must be sensitive to cultural and religious values. They should reinforce or include community norms that strengthen safe, loving and secure environments for children, while attempting to change beliefs and practices that harm children.
- Collaboration and partnerships/A coordinated response/Harmonization of response. Joint, integrated programming has the greatest impact, so identifying and coordinating multi-sectoral responses is essential. Improving coordination between ministries and clarifying their roles can contribute to more effective policies and programming for vulnerable children. Planning together with communities is also vital and ensures that community efforts or coping mechanisms are supported and strengthened. Networks and forums should be supported to create more harmonized interventions.
- Equity. Equal provision of quality services to children and families in education, health and social protection is a fundamental responsibility of the state.
- A family-centered response. Children are best supported in and through their families and communities. Programs should strengthen families, whether the head of household is an ill or widowed parent, an elderly grandparent or a young person. Strong families are able to provide better care and nurture children more effectively.
- Programs should be AIDS sensitive and not AIDS specific. Evidence shows that interventions targeting the poorest and most vulnerable families will effectively reach those affected by HIV and AIDS, and at the same time will not stigmatize and label.