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ESSSWA held
its 5th Annual conference
The Ethiopian Society of
Sociologists, Social Workers and Anthropologists (ESSSWA) held its 5th
Annual Conference at the Addis Ababa Hilton Hotel on March 3 & 4, 2006. The
theme of the conference was "HIV/ AIDS Orphan and Vulnerable Children in the
Eyes of Social Scientists and Development Practitioners". Six papers on
various topics under the conference theme were presented and discussed
during the two-day meeting.
Attending the conference were
representatives of government ministries, UN agencies, bilateral
organizations, and NGOs, including FSS.
The conference underlined the
importance of the participation of all concerned in curbing the multifaceted
problems of 4.6 million orphans in the country. Speaking at the conference,
Dr Bulti Gutema, Head of the Children and Family Affairs Department of the
Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, said although there are laws and
policies that provide for the protection of orphans and vulnerable children,
many children who are in dire need of assistance are not reached for a range
of problems.
The number of vulnerable
orphans has been increasing due to poverty, drought, HIV/AIDS and other
social crisis, noted the UNICEF Youth and HIV/AIDS Department Head, Richard
Mabala.
The Society has endorsed a
three-year Strategic Plan after thorough discussions by its members. ESSSWA
also accorded a special Award to Shimelis Adugna and Hirut Imru in
recognition of their long years of dedicated service in the fields of
Education and national development.
The ESSSWA was founded in June
1996 and officially registered in April 1997. |
