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Stop Human Rights Abuses
Future Forsaken
July 28, 2004

Future Forsaken

Abuses Against Children Affected by HIV/AIDS in India

Map
Glossary..
I.  Summary..
II.  Background..
HIV/AIDS in India
Government Bodies Responsible for HIV/AIDS-Affected Children
NACO and the State AIDS Control Societies
Other Responsible Government Bodies
Funding to Address HIV/AIDS in India
India's Education and Health Systems
India's Health System...
India's Education System...
III. Discrimination Against Children  Affected by HIV/AIDS
Violations of the Right to the Highest Attainable Standard of Health
Discrimination by Health Care Providers
Inaccessible Medical Care

Inaccessibility of Basic Drugs and Equipment

Access to Antiretroviral Therapy

Lack of Psychological and Emotional Health Care for HIV/AIDS-Affected Children

Domestic and International Law on the Right to the Highest Attainable Standard of Health
Sharmila A.
Violations of the Right to Education
Denial of Access to School

Cases of Children Excluded from School

Bency and Benson

Other Cases

Discriminatory Treatment in School
Other Barriers to Education

Ravi K.

School Fees and Related Costs

Domestic and International Law on the Right to Education
Gender Discrimination and Increased Vulnerability of HIV/AIDS-Affected Children
The Government's Response to Discrimination Against Children Affected By HIV/AIDS
International and Domestic Law and Policy on Discrimination
Government Action to Address Discrimination104

Recognition of the Problem

Official Responses to Cases of Discrimination

Combating Discrimination with Information109

Educating Children About HIV/AIDS

Educating Professionals and the General Public

Sunita B. and Nisha B.122
IV.  Protection of Orphans and Other Vulnerable Children   126
Children in Need of Care:  Testimonies of Children and Parents129
Lalita R.129
Other Children's Testimonies132
Other Vulnerable Children140
Street Children141
Child Sex Workers142
Working Children144
The Government's Responsibility for Children in Need of Care and Protection149
International and Domestic Legal Framework150
Official Denial of AIDS Orphaning and Orphans Living with HIV/AIDS155
Harms of Institutionalization158
Institutions Rejecting HIV-Positive Children159
Alternatives to Institutionalization164
V.  Recommendations169
Recommendations Regarding Discrimination169
Additional Recommendations Regarding Health174
Additional Recommendations Regarding Education174
Additional Recommendations Regarding Protection of Orphans and Other Vulnerable Children175
VI.  Conclusion.. 177
Appendix.. 179
Acknowledgments205