Status of Protection of Child Rights in India against HIV/AIDS

Introduction
As per the UN Resolution the children have Right to Education, Right to Food, Right to Health, Right to Shelter, Right to be Heard and Participation. The SOS Villages carry out activities pertaining to Child Rights in the area of Health, Education, Psychosocial Support, Legal Support and Culture, Youth Development and Community Training, Entrepreneurship and Food Security (Livelihood). Government Organizations such as Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Commerce & Industries, Department of Social Welfare, Ministry of Women & Child Development, Department of Home Affairs, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment are also concerned with these functions. The status of these child rights was assessed in India with an objective of analyzing the status of Child Rights externally as well as internally (with in SOS Children’s Villages) to help conceptualizing the Policy Document for protecting the children against prevalence of HIV / AIDS in SOS Children’s Villages. IIDM carried out this study with the following research methodology. The main focus on this study had been to provide data on the National Child Right’s Situation Analysis.

In the External Situation Analysis the focus was on:

- Identifying what rights are not realized.
- Identifying why they are not realized – immediate & root causes
- Identifying who/which institution bears responsibility. What are they and other actors are doing.
- Identifying the constraints & obstacles to meeting responsibilities (Capacity, legislative, resources, attitudes etc.). What may help or hinder the realization of children’s rights.
- Identifying how best to support change towards the realization of the UN CRC. What strengths can be reinforced, what needs to be done additionally, or done differently, and with whom? What good practice exists, what brings about the most effective changes?

The main purpose of the consultation with other main stakeholders was to get an overview on the opinions, strategies & programmes of the main public institutions, NGOs & individuals active in the child rights field with regard to the Child Rights Policy. In particular root causes of child rights violations were identified & capacity gaps analyzed jointly through stakeholders consultation.

In case of Internal Strengths & weaknesses it was to assess the SOS Children’s villages own current capacity in India in terms of its knowledge & experience, staffing competence, reputation, quality of relationships, structures & systems, resources etc. such as


- Which children are being reached by SOS Programmes? Who is the specific target group (to consider data on relevant issues, e.g. age, gender, type of disability, family situation etc.) ?
- What services are offered in SOS facilities & programmes? What are the over all goals of the programmes? What is their impact?
- What aspects of child rights are focused on through the programme? Does SOS apply the principles of the UN CRC (Survival & Development, Child Participation, best interests, non-discrimination)? Do children have a voice/ are listened to regarding issues that concern them?
- How are the working relationship between the SOS Villages & the government?
- Are there any external positions, advocacy efforts & cooperation with partners on the topic?
- How are the Child Rights are reflected or supported by the organizational structure, existing systems (Working methods, approaches & procedures) and infrastructure?
- What competencies and or competency gaps does SOS Children’s Villages have regarding Child Rights issues?
- What important links are found between the Child Right Issues & the roots and history of SOS Children Villages?

This study has been carried out with the intention to give specific direction & understanding the situation of children in India.

Objective of the Study:

The study aimed at analyzing the status of Child Rights externally as well as internally (With in SOS Children’s Villages).

Research Methodology:

The study was conducted in following steps.

Desk Research
(Internal Analysis)

In the desk research for internal analysis following documents were studied-

SOS Children’s Villages National Action Plan
SOS Facility Action Plan
SOS Progress reports
Partnership agreements (MOUs) with the governments
Other documents/ Policy related to Child Rights (e.g. Work Place Policy, guidelines for children’s admissions
(External Analysis)
In the desk research for external analysis following documents were studied-

· Reports on Internet
· GOI Plan of Action for Child Rights
· Five Year Plan document of Planning Commission of India.
· National Policy on Child Rights
· 2001 census data

The Stakeholder Consultation Workshop:

A group of stakeholders were consulted in a participatory mode in a workshop organized as per following details.
Place – Indian Institute of Development Management
Date- 20-3-07
Time- 2 PM to 5.30 PM
No. of Participants – 11
Name of Participants who attended the workshop-

1) Mr. Manoj Suryawanshi Khajuri Kala SOS village
2) Ms. Archna Sahay Bhopal Aarambh (NGO)
3) Ms Pallavi Bhopal Aarambh (NGO)
4) Ms Saraswati Iyyer Bhopal CARE (Int. NGO)
5) Mr. Ashish Gangarade Itarsi Jeavodaya (NGO)
6) Dr Mahesh Saxena Bhopal MP Child Wel. Council
6) Dr. S.K.Trivedi Bhopal IIDM
7) Ms. Shubhra Goel Bhopal IIDM
8) Dr. R.S.Nirmal Bhopal IIDM
9) Mr. Manoj Vijaywargiya Bhopal IIDM
10) Mr. Vinod Choudhary Bhopal IIDM
11) Ms. Subhra Bhattacharya Bhopal IIDM


SWOT Analysis:

To identify the internal strengths & weaknesses the SWOT analysis was carried out by involving the following stakeholders:

1- SOS Staff members working directly with children such as SOS mothers, SOS Youth leaders, Village Directors , FSP Field Officers, SOS teachers, nurses & doctors working in SOS medical centres.
2- Member of the board of national association.
3- Members of the National Management Team ( National Director, Facility Heads)
4- Local Donor
5- Representatives of children & young people
6- External partners (NGOs, Out of Home, local authorities)



Primary data Collection:

For collecting the primary data the quantitative & qualitative data collection tools were used.

4.1 Quantitative Tools:

1- SOS Children’s Village Institution Schedules
2- SOS Staff Members Schedule
3- National Management Team Members Schedule
4- Child Schedule
4.2 Qualitative Tools:
1- Focus Group Discussions with Staff
2- Focus Group Discussions with Beneficiaries

5.0 Sampling Criteria:

It was not possible to take opinions of all the stakeholders in such a short time. Therefore samples of respondents were drawn as described. However the opinions of all the Village Directors had also been taken and the opinions of a large number SOS Mothers have been collected.

1- Four SOS Villages were selected for study as per the following criteria.

1- One Village among the oldest established villages. ( Faridabad)
2- One Village being among the latest established villages. (Khajuri Kala)
3- One of them being in metropolitan town ( Faridabad)
4- One of them being in small town. (Bhopal)


For interviewing the members of National Management Team we designed a checklist and the HODs at Head Quarter were interviewed.

6.0 Main Steps of the Study:

The IIDM designed the data collection formats & check lists in consultation with the Director SOS Khajuri Kala who was coordinating the study. We pre-tested those instruments before undertaking the study. Thus the study was conducted in following main steps.

Step-I: Finalising the objectives of the study & scope of work by detailed discussions with the client. At this stage we discussed with the client organization & clarified the objectives of the study & their requirements from the study.
Step-II: Desk Research: Studying the similar studies in other organizations & relevant literature including surfing internet.
Step-III: Design of Data Collection Tools:
The data collection formats & checklists (Tools) were designed by IIDM & were finalized in consultation with SOS Coordinator.
Step-IV: Field Testing:
The formats & checklists were tested in SOS Bhopal & then were finalized.
Step-VI: Collection of data:
The investigators collected the data from the SOS HQ & sampled SOS Villages..
Step-VII: Analysis of data was carried out & the report was prepared.


7.0 Limitations of the Study:

1- The duration of the study assigned was very short.
2- The substantial number of AIDS/ HIV cases were not there in the organization. Therefore the information obtained was based more on opinions than the reality.
3- Because of time constraints the sample size for data collection was small.
4- The literature available in the internal issues was not easily available.
5- Time for study was so short that in-depth analysis of all the collected data could not be done.