Global Issue: Children at Risk PDF Print E-mail
Patrick McDonald serves as Lausanne Senior Associate for Children at Risk. He is also CEO of Viva Network. The following is excerpted from Viva’s website: www.viva.org.

"Over one billion children are suffering from one or more forms of extreme deprivation."
- UNICEF, 2005

Children at Risk

  • 246 million children are child labourers
    (Facts on Child Labour, International Labour Organization, 2003)
  • 250,000 children and young people are infected with HIV/AIDS every month
    (State of the World's Children, UNICEF, 2000)
  • 300,000 young people under 18 are exploited as child soldiers
    (UN Office of the Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, 2003)

Viva Network defines ‘children at risk’ as persons under 18 living in situations which may include:

  • disabling or bonded child labour
  • war and other forms of violence
  • sexual abuse and exploitation
  • disease, drug abuse or disability
  • neglect, loss of family or primary care-giver
  • extreme poverty
  • oppressive institutions
 
Learn more about Children at Risk and organizations involved in the issue at www.viva.org.