The ‘Third World’ refers to that group of nations, which became independent after World War II. These countries suffer from basic issues like food and shelter shortage, poverty, illiteracy, high birth and death rates, social crimes and many more.
Often women and children become automatic victims of these problems. Children in particular are the most vulnerable, being linked to banners like bonded labor, begging, sexual harassment and illegal traffic. Many of these children are ‘orphans‘, some deliberately abandoned while others accidentally.
Vietnam, in Southeast Asia is a glaring example of how the wealth divide has left many children ‘alone’. Young pregnant women are forced to give up kids on birth, due to poverty. Some children are abandoned due to dirty diseases they suffer from.
The family rejects these kids and they are thrown into the ‘orphan basket’. It is sad that while one section of the population gets a peaceful and settled life with ease, another section just dreams about it.
With more couples in Vietnam choosing to have a baby off late, the problem of abandoned children is becoming a serious obstacle to social development. More over the Chinese calendar proclaims this year as that of the ‘Golden Fire Pig’, a year considered very auspicious to produce a child. Statistics meanwhile, show around 30 kids in every thousand going for adoption.
Though civil society organizations and charity institutions encourage adoption, these drives often result in only a few children finding a home with parents. Also, in most cases, couples adopt children because they are very cute, attractive by color and healthy.
What about those little ones suffering from various infections, diseases like polio, HIV and heart problems? This second class of orphans will have to remain by themselves for the rest of their lives in most cases. They even grow up with the society treating them as ‘untouchables‘.
Protecting children from violence, exploitation and abuse is a major challenge for every nation today. While each has been successful in achieving economic development to some extent, they haven’t succeeded in their social objectives equally, particularly those involving women and children. The United Nations has been making significant efforts to help orphaned children through the UNICEF and various other developmental programs. However, one can only sincerely hope that ‘the future will change’.
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News Source: AlJazeera
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