OVC Support Toolkit  >  Children's rights 

Stigma and discrimination

This section looks at issues relating to stigma and discrimination and how they affect orphans and other vulnerable children. Stigma and discrimination mean that people are not treated equally or fairly. The right to be treated equally is part of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Other sections look in detail at participation, protection from abuse and legal issues.

Key points about stigma and discrimination are:

1. Stigma is based on beliefs. A person is 'stigmatised' when another person thinks negatively of them because of something they have experienced or because they belong to a particular group. Discrimination occurs when actions are taken (or not taken) on the basis of a stigmatising belief.

2. HIV/AIDS leads to stigma and discrimination.

3. Stigma and discrimination occur in many settings, including the family, local community, school and health care facilities.

4. There are many negative effects of stigma and discrimination.

5. Stigma and discrimination go against a child's right to be treated equally and fairly.

6. There are many actions which can be taken by individuals and organisations to overcome stigma and discrimination.

Stigma, discrimination and HIV/AIDS

Stigma is about beliefs and attitudes. Discrimination relates to actions. Both are based on negative views of people simply because they are seen as belonging to a particular group. HIV/AIDS is commonly associated with stigma and discrimination. This may be because of HIV's association with death, sex and drug use.

Children and young people in other groups may also experience stigma and discrimination. These include orphans, children of women who sell sex, street children, refugees, children in detention, children who use drugs and children in child-headed households. Many of these experience 'double' stigma because they are also more vulnerable to HIV/AIDS.

Effects of stigma and discrimination

Children and young people experience stigma and discrimination in different places. These include at home, in their local community, in schools and at health care facilities. This may result in children and young people being denied access to health care and education.

Effects of stigma and discrimination include:

• Fear of members of the stigmatised group.
• Verbal and physical abuse of children and young people.
• Fear of disclosing information, including results of HIV tests. This may mean that people do not get the treatment they need.
• Reduced self-esteem and confidence among children.
• Children and young people being isolated socially. This can mean they are 'excluded' from society.
• Withdrawal, depression and other psychosocial problems.
• Children and young people running away from the place where they are experiencing stigma and discrimination. This may involve them moving from rural to urban areas. This carries the risk of them ending up living on the street.

The right to equality

Children and young people have a right to be treated equally. If a child is treated differently just because they belong to a different group, they are being discriminated against. This is against their human rights.

Proposed action

The following actions can help overcome stigma and discrimination:

• Laws which ensure that children and young people are treated equally and fairly. Where laws exist, communities need to understand what they mean. There also needs to be an efficient and affordable way for people to use the justice system when a law is broken.
• Local advocacy on behalf of children and young people to ensure that communities tackle stigma and discrimination and support children's rights to be treated equally.
• Psychosocial support to children and young people experiencing stigma and discrimination.
• Allowing children and young people to participate in activities and decisions. Children and young people can then challenge stigma and discrimination themselves.
• Programmes must themselves avoid discrimination. This means, for example, that they should not target only children whose parents have died of AIDS. In addition, they should not use stigmatising terms such as 'AIDS orphans'.

• Send to a friend
• Printer-friendly
• Introductions to themes (pdf)