Can religions do more in response to the AIDS pandemic? To address this question over 450 representatives of faith-based organizations currently responding to HIV and AIDS will gather in Mexico City, 31 July - 2 August, in advance of the XVII International AIDS Conference that will bring together leading church, civil society and government speakers.

"I expect the Ecumenical Pre-Conference to be an opportunity to hear from those within the faith communities who are striving to make a difference", says Rev. Dr Nyambura Njoroge, project coordinator of the WCC Ecumenical HIV and AIDS Initiative in Africa (EHAIA). "I hope religious leaders and decision makers around the world will listen to a crescendo of prophetic voices - voices from the eye of the storm called HIV and AIDS", she adds.

The Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance (EAA), a broad international network of churches and Christian organizations cooperating in advocacy on global trade and HIV and AIDS, provides overall coordination and support for faith-based participation through its secretariat and several international planning committees. The Alliance, in whose founding the World Council of Churches has played an important role, is based in Geneva, Switzerland.