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UNICEF launches an appeal to integrate HIV positive children into public schools “Together for school”

Mr. Pierre Poupard, UNICEF Representative in Romania, today launches the “Together for school” initiative, which aims to encourage communities to give equal education opportunities to every child in Romania. For the majority of HIV positive children the access to mainstream schools is repeatedly restricted or blocked even by the communities in which they live. Many cases have been reported of communities protesting against the admission of HIV positive children to school. The 2003 Report of the National Federation of HIV/AIDS Affected Persons Organizations mentions a number of children who have been denied access to public schools.

“The access of HIV positive children to public schools is one indicator of the level of information and knowledge about HIV/AIDS in a community. When a HIV positive child is not allowed to attend a mainstream school it means that the teachers, the other children’s parents, and the community itself have a lot more to learn about HIV/AIDS”, said Mr Poupard.

Currently, over 7,500 children and adolescents are living with HIV/AIDS in Romania. According to UNAIDS estimates, fewer than 60% go to mainstream schools, and many of those who attend public schools are able to do so only because nobody there is aware of their HIV/AIDS status.

An HIV positive child does not pose a threat of infection. “Several communities in Romania, including the community in Constanta, have received adequate information and have changed their attitude. HIV positive children in Constanta go to school, just like any other children. The key to success is disseminating information at community level, raising awareness among teachers and educating parents,” said Mr. Poupard.

UNICEF is now working with the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health as well as with several non-governmental organizations at local level to support the inclusion of HIV positive children in mainstream schools.

UNICEF Romania appreciates the efforts of the government to develop a legislative framework to ensure the universal right to education for all children, including HIV positive children, efforts that translate into practice the commitments made by Romania when it signed the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Despite this constitutional and judicial framework, which fosters universal access to education, there are still many HIV positive children who encounter difficulties to integrate in school.

For these reasons, UNICEF Romania is calling on the Ministry of Education and Research and on central and local authorities to develop a set of specific standards and regulations on school integration of HIV positive children.

UNICEF will continue to support government and non-governmental efforts to address this problem so that all children in Romania can realize their right to education.

For further information, please contact: Codruta Hedesiu, Communication Officer, UNICEF Romania, e-mail chedesiu@unicef.org, tel. 2017864.

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