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Summary: Political Instability, chronic poverty and lack of protection are just some of the challenges facing children in Haiti, whose lives are a daily struggle.
[GENEVA, 10 February 2006] – Political instability, chronic poverty and lack of protection are just some of the challenges facing children in Haiti, whose lives are a daily struggle. The elections may offer some hope for change as a necessary step to put in place policies that protect the rights of children. But elections alone will do little in addressing Haiti’s social and development challenges if more support from the international community is not provided. Recurrent crises, weak state institutions and limited access to food and social services have left 3 out of 4 of the 3.8 million children under the age of 18 vulnerable, deprived of basic services and victims of violence, exploitation and abuse. Child mortality rates in Haiti are the worst in the Americas and in rural and urban areas alike, cost and distance to facilities are barriers to receiving much-needed healthcare. Violence prevents humanitarian organisations from delivering basic services, especially in some metropolitan areas. In Port-au-Prince, children roam the street as part of armed gangs. In addition, Haiti's HIV prevalence rate remains the highest in the region, with 45,000 AIDS-related deaths each year. At least 200,000 children have been orphaned by AIDS. UNICEF has requested an additional US $5.9 million in its annual Humanitarian Action Report to increase immunization levels, provide more protection against violence and exploitation, and to improve emergency preparedness in a country routinely hit by natural disasters. UNICEF and other agencies have also supported a Policy Agenda For Children. It highlights the plight of the country’s children, but also sets out an emergency plan of action. 23 candidates signed on to the agenda prior to voting day. The plan of action calls for specific standards in child protection, education, child and maternal health as well as HIV/AIDS.