Difficult Decisions

Many children affected by AIDS have parents who are members of marginalized groups such as sex workers, transgender people, people who use drugs, and men who have sex with men.  In many cases, the stigma surrounding their parents prevents the children from receiving the services they need because their families fear facing discrimination and/or legal repercussions in clinical or social services settings. The Coalition co-led an international working group,n order to address this barrier to family-centred services. The deliverables included a tool and guidance to assist care workers in managing ethical dilemmas when providing services to children and families of the most stigmatized and marginalized populations.