Assistance for Orphans and Other Vulnerable Children in Developing Countries Act of 2004

ASSISTANCE FOR ORPHANS AND OTHER VULNERABLE CHILDREN IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES ACT OF 2004 -- (House of Representatives - June 14, 2004)

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 4061. This bill is a step forward in giving hope to orphans and defenseless children in developing countries. In 2001 it was reported that there were over 110 million orphans in sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean.

Many of these children become orphans due to the loss of their parents to HIV/AIDS. By the end of 2001 an estimated 14 million children under the age of 15 had lost one or both parents to AIDS. This number is expected to increase to approximately 30 million children by 2010, due to the increase of HIV cases in sub-Saharan Africa and the Caribbean. Many of these orphans who loose their parents to HIV/AIDS are also at risk of being infected with the disease and ultimately die due to lack of access to health care. It is estimated that one-third of the children born from HIV-infected mothers develop HIV/AIDS. In 2001 more than 11.8 million young people ages 15 to 24 were living with HIV/AIDS. Every day another 2,000 children under the age of 15 will be infected with HIV in these areas. Approximately more than 4 million children have died from AIDS primarily through mother-to-child transmission.

A lot of these orphans at a very young age become head of households with the burden of providing for their young siblings and sometimes grandparents who were dependent on their parents before they die. Due to this, many of these orphans are subject to working in commercial agriculture, domestic service industry, commercial sex industry, as street vendors or in industries that violate internationally recognized rights of children. Most of the orphans who have to work are young women and girls who usually end up in commercial sex industries, making them at risk of being infected with various diseases especially HIV/AIDS. It is estimated that more than 70 percent of new HIV cases among young orphans ages 15 to 24 in sub-Saharan Africa are young women and girls.

Many of these children are malnourished due to lack of food, which enhances their risk for illness and infection to diseases. Due to lack of health access, many of these children will die of these illnesses or diseases. In 2004 more than 8 million children in sub-Saharan Africa are underweight compared to 1994. A lot of these children lack education because they have to work to fend for their families instead of going to school, they are not physically fit due to hunger and malnutrition, and they do not have the financial resources to go to school. Approximately 125 million children do not attend school and the majority of these children are young girls.

Mr. Speaker, this resolution will provide the funds needed for the basic care, health care, mental care and educational opportunities for these orphans and vulnerable children in order for them to survive in the world. Our children are our future. We need to give these children a chance to be the future of their countries and the world. I urge strong support of this resolution.

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