HIV/AIDShas a profound impact across households, communities and nations. Unlike many other diseases HIV/AIDS attacks young productive adult workers, thereby leaving an imbalanced population of orphans and the elderly in its wake. The number of AIDS orphans is currently estimated to be approximately 14 million. By 2010 it is estimated that this figure could exceed 20 million. (UNICEF, 2004).

On the 15th of September 2005, at the 60th session of the General Assembly of the United Nations, world leaders attended a world summit in New York at which a draft resolution document was agreed.