One of the most disturbing aspects of the epidemic is its impact on children. More than 14 million children currently under the age of 15, most of them in Africa, have lost one or both parents to AIDS. By 2010 this number is expected to jump to more than 25 million. With infection rates still rising and adults continuing to succumb to the disease, HIV-AIDS will continue to undermine progress in the protection of children and cause large-scale suffering among the most vulnerable for years to come.