| World AIDS Day 2008 |
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For millions of children, HIV and AIDS have starkly altered the experience of growing up. In 2007, it was estimated that 2.1 million children under age 15 were living with HIV. As of 2005, more than 15 million children under age 18 have lost one or both parents to AIDS. Millions more have experienced deepening poverty, school dropout and discrimination as a result of the epidemic. In commemoration of World AIDS day 2008, AWEPA highlighted the crucial role that European parliaments play in the protection, care and support of Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) affected by HIV/ AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa. In line with the UNICEF Global Campaign ‘Unite for Children, Unite against AIDS' AWEPA stimulated its sections in Europe to organise, together with UNICEF, OVC information briefings and updates on OVC in each of the European parliaments. A number of sections organised awareness raising meetings in their national parliament on the 1st of December 2008 on World AIDS day, or as close as possible to this date.
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