In an effort to address the plight of children in child-headed households in Ethiopia, The African Child Policy Forum organized an event under the theme: “The invisible and emerging problem of child-headed households: Challenges and the way forward” on Monday, 29 September 2008, at Addis Ababa Hilton Hotel. The ceremony was intended to create awareness on the little known situation of child-headed households and mobilising support for their cause.

In his opening speech, the Executive Director of The African Child Policy Forum, Dr. Assefa Bequele, noted that there is a need for a multifaceted response to this emerging challenge. He specially reiterated the need for urgent support –both material and psychosocial-to these households.

The books launched on the event are titled: “Reversed Roles and Stressed Souls: Child-headed Households in Ethiopia ” and “The Lives of Children Heading Families as Told to Shimelis Tsegaye”. The research reports are the first of their kind in the country and the most in-depth of all studies conducted on the subject in the continent. The documentary, with its English title: “Once mom was gone”, is a pioneering work that vividly documented the lives of child-headed households.

The event staged presentations and panel discussions chaired by notable experts on general issues pertaining to the nature, magnitude, causes, and extent of the challenges and the needs of orphans and child-headed households, mechanisms of coordination and harmonisation of aid, policy and programmatic practices and experiences.

Largely as the result of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, Ethiopia is one of those countries with the highest number of child-headed households in sub-Saharan Africa, second only to Zimbabwe . Children in such households are probably the most vulnerable, lonely, stigmatised and isolated group in society. Yet, in our country, as in others, they are totally invisible in both social and policy domains. The study revealed child-headed households face tremendous emotional and psychological challenges and live with the constant memory of their deceased parents, and their lingering agony and death. They grow up in permanent risk of neglect, violence, sexual assault, and other abuses.

The launching event was officially opened in the presence of Her Excellency, Wz Yeshihareg Damte, Commissioner, Women and Children's Affairs, Human Rights Commission, and has attracted a wide range of participants including senior government officials, NGO and CBO representatives, delegations of international organizations and distinguished members of the community.