HIV and conflict: a double emergency

This report reflects the International Save the Children Alliance’s experience of HIV/AIDS and its effects on young people in conflict situations around the world.In war, HIV/AIDS spreads rapidly as a result of sexual bartering, sexual violence, low awareness about HIV, and the breakdown of vital services in health and education. In conflict situations, young people are most at risk. Many young women and girls in refugee and post-conflict settings are forced to use their bodies to get food and clothing for themselves and their families. In conflict situations, rape, domestic violence and sexual exploitation often go unchecked.The report insists that governments:uphold children's rightsmeet international commitments to ensure that HIV does not cluster within their borders and populations under their controldevote adequate resources to fighting HIV/AIDSensure young people play a central role in the development and implementation of National Strategic Frameworks to fight HIV/AIDS, developed with local associations and international partnersDonors must:increase funding to the UN’s Consolidated Inter-Agency Appeals Processgive generously to UN agencies and NGOs working effectively to safeguard human security, including those in conflictsincrease funding to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria, in order to build the capacity of conflict-affected countries to respond to the crisisencourage NEPAD to address HIV prevention in conflict situationsHumanitarian agencies must:build the capacity of staff in all programmes to provide timely responses to the threat of HIVinvolve children and young people in preparing, implementing and evaluating changesdevelop and implement codes of conduct for all staff and personnel to protect young people from abuses and exploitation resulting from their need for food and other essential itemsinclude HIV/AIDS in emergency assessmentsprovide care and support to people living with HIV/AIDS through both international and national partnersensure food and livelihood security