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UNICEF's recently published "The State of the World's Children" and "Children and AIDS: Second Stocktaking Report" which contain current information, recent advancements, statistics and strategies regarding global childcare.

On May 7th, the Portland Area Global AIDS Coalition is hosting an action fair for World AIDS Orphans Day with a keynote speech by Stephen Lewis, the former UN Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa. If you are in the area, this is an event you don't want to miss!

PLAS (Positive Living through AIDS Orphans Support), a Japanese NGO is taking the World AIDS Orphans Day message to the streets of Japan. The group is mobilizing street teams and aims to collect the signatures of 30,000 citizens to encourage the Japanese government and all members of the G8 to commit 10% of overall HIV and AIDS funding to support the needs of orphans and vulnerable children.

Mayors in cities and towns around the world are signing proclamations declaring their support for AIDS orphans.  They are joining thousands of citizen-advocates who are calling upon governments to make children a priority in the fight against AIDS. 

Wednesday night, more than 12 million American’s tuned in to watch some of the world’s most famous stars perform and raise funds to address the world’s most pressing challenged. This year, AIDS Orphans were in the spotlight. Bono and Annie Lenox rocked it for this cause. Check out Bono’s video below.

Tomorrow evening, American Idol will host their second installment of Idol Gives Back which will show on Fox on Wednesday, April 9 (7:30-10:00 PM ET/PT). This year, the program has a major focus on charities supporting the needs of vulnerable children. Charities include: he Children's Defense Fund, The Global Fund, Make It Right, Malaria No More, Save The Children, U.S. Programs and the Children's Health Fund.

In honor of World AIDS Orphans Day, the Nyaka AIDS Orphans School in southwestern Uganda is issuing a challenge in commemoration of World AIDS Orphans Day challenging the Friends of Nyaka groups to get 1000 people to commit to the cause by donating $3 (the price of a cup of coffee). They are hoping to raise over $15,000 for our school with this challenge. Check out there challenge at: http://michiganfriendsofnyaka.wordpress.com/

Today, UNAIDS, the WHO and UNICEF released Children and AIDS the Second Stocktaking Report which reviews how AIDS is affecting children and young people. The report notes that progress has been made in expanding treatment needs of children – finding that the number of HIV-positive children in low- and middle-income countries receiving antiretroviral treatment increased by 70 per cent from 2005 to 2006. Progress was also made in preventing mother-to-child transmission.