Interfaith conference

International Interfaith conference on prevention and control of HIV/AIDS
Delhi Declaration 

Delhi, India, 1-2 December 2004 

We, the leaders of various religions and faiths gathered here at NOIDA near the Indian national capital, Delhi, for the International Interfaith Conference on Prevention and Control of HIV/AIDS held on December 1^st and 2^nd, 2004, reaffirm that Religions, Faiths, Spiritual traditions, sacred texts and scriptures exert powerful, positive direct and indirect influences on the lives of individuals, communities and societies and nations. 

Recognize that AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome), the final stage of the infection caused by the Human Immuno-deficiency Virus), is a pandemic that has far reaching impact upon individuals, families, communities, societies and nations every where. 

We are aware that HIV does not discriminate on the basis of faith or socio-economic characteristics and has become a fact of life in our midst; that HIV/AIDS has already claimed millions of people's lives belonging to all religions and faiths. The epidemic will continue to take a heavy toll in terms of debility and death and will devastate families in the years to come; and, that there is at present neither a vaccine nor a cure for AIDS. 

Therefore, we assert that the requisite comprehensive response for prevention and control of HIV/AIDS has to recognize the crucial role religions, faiths and spiritual traditions can play in prevention, control of spread of the infection and in offering material, moral, spiritual aid and succour to the people living with HIV/AIDS. 

We pledge to strive to use the power, influence and instrumentalities of our religions and faiths for these purposes. 

We observe with great concern that very often, those infected and affected have been discriminated, neglected or rejected by the people around them and by the society. This goes to defeat the fight for prevention and control of AIDS, as this makes the problem invisible and therefore, difficult to deal with at the individual, family, community, society and government level. 

We reiterate the critical need for overcoming the prevailing silence, stigma, denial and fear attached to the epidemic. 

We note that HIV/AIDS, while posing a threat to all sections of society, poses a special challenge for socially and economically vulnerable groups, children, women, young adults, elderly and orphans. 

Our religions and faiths command us to uphold the basic sanctity and nobility of human life. They lay emphasis on the importance of compassion, caring and supporting the disadvantaged- the poor, the sick and the suffering who get more and more marginalized when struck by the disease. 

We recognize the call of all religions and faiths for reiterating and recirculating among the people the common and supreme message of Compassion, to be practiced as providing aid and succour to persons carrying the infection by every one around them so that the infected continue to live a life of dignity and fulfilment. 

We reaffirm that the primary goal and task before all religions and faiths is to assist people to stay away from risk behaviour affecting their physical, moral and spiritual growth and development. This mandate before us when effectively fulfilled will equip every one to protect himself or herself and society against HIV/AIDS that has no cure or vaccine. 

We recognize that Religions and Faiths have a mandate to light up the path of the youth since they have to carry the torch of life on its eternal journey. In facing the challenge of HIV/AIDS they are our best, first line of defence, while being the most vulnerable as well. We pledge to work with the youth in this fight. 

We affirm that Religions and Faiths have a critical role in placing the scientific facts of HIV/AIDS in their due perspective. We recognize the importance of scientific efforts for developing effective vaccine against the epidemic and the need for requisite support for achieving a breakthrough in such efforts. 

Through this Delhi Declaration emanating from the International Interfaith Conference it is resolved that:

• Our Religions and Faiths call upon us to take forthwith shared action for responding to the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

• The foundational principles enunciated in this Delhi Charter need to be translated into a framework of action for supporting the national AIDS control programme; and, for follow up for making an immediate impact on efforts for prevention, control of HIV/AIDS and for providing care and support to its victims.

• We commit our special expertise, experiences, resources and available healthcare structures for providing holistic healing and compassionate care and support to people with HIV/AIDS.

• this Conference supports the initiative to form a Task Group for consulting the stakeholders from different religions and faiths and spiritual traditions for forging an India Interfaith Initiative

• This Task Group after due consultations should develop a plan for taking forward India Interfaith Initiative to various regions of the country and for linking up with the global Interfaith Initiative.

We appeal to all religious and faith based organizations, spiritual movements and leaders at all levels to strive for aligning their actions and activities in accordance and contribute to strengthening the national response.

International Interfaith conference on prevention and control of HIV/AIDS
Delhi Declaration 

Delhi, India, 1-2 December 2004 

We, the leaders of various religions and faiths gathered here at NOIDA near the Indian national capital, Delhi, for the International Interfaith Conference on Prevention and Control of HIV/AIDS held on December 1^st and 2^nd, 2004, reaffirm that Religions, Faiths, Spiritual traditions, sacred texts and scriptures exert powerful, positive direct and indirect influences on the lives of individuals, communities and societies and nations. 

Recognize that AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome), the final stage of the infection caused by the Human Immuno-deficiency Virus), is a pandemic that has far reaching impact upon individuals, families, communities, societies and nations every where. 

We are aware that HIV does not discriminate on the basis of faith or socio-economic characteristics and has become a fact of life in our midst; that HIV/AIDS has already claimed millions of people's lives belonging to all religions and faiths. The epidemic will continue to take a heavy toll in terms of debility and death and will devastate families in the years to come; and, that there is at present neither a vaccine nor a cure for AIDS. 

Therefore, we assert that the requisite comprehensive response for prevention and control of HIV/AIDS has to recognize the crucial role religions, faiths and spiritual traditions can play in prevention, control of spread of the infection and in offering material, moral, spiritual aid and succour to the people living with HIV/AIDS. 

We pledge to strive to use the power, influence and instrumentalities of our religions and faiths for these purposes. 

We observe with great concern that very often, those infected and affected have been discriminated, neglected or rejected by the people around them and by the society. This goes to defeat the fight for prevention and control of AIDS, as this makes the problem invisible and therefore, difficult to deal with at the individual, family, community, society and government level. 

We reiterate the critical need for overcoming the prevailing silence, stigma, denial and fear attached to the epidemic. 

We note that HIV/AIDS, while posing a threat to all sections of society, poses a special challenge for socially and economically vulnerable groups, children, women, young adults, elderly and orphans. 

Our religions and faiths command us to uphold the basic sanctity and nobility of human life. They lay emphasis on the importance of compassion, caring and supporting the disadvantaged- the poor, the sick and the suffering who get more and more marginalized when struck by the disease. 

We recognize the call of all religions and faiths for reiterating and recirculating among the people the common and supreme message of Compassion, to be practiced as providing aid and succour to persons carrying the infection by every one around them so that the infected continue to live a life of dignity and fulfilment. 

We reaffirm that the primary goal and task before all religions and faiths is to assist people to stay away from risk behaviour affecting their physical, moral and spiritual growth and development. This mandate before us when effectively fulfilled will equip every one to protect himself or herself and society against HIV/AIDS that has no cure or vaccine. 

We recognize that Religions and Faiths have a mandate to light up the path of the youth since they have to carry the torch of life on its eternal journey. In facing the challenge of HIV/AIDS they are our best, first line of defence, while being the most vulnerable as well. We pledge to work with the youth in this fight. 

We affirm that Religions and Faiths have a critical role in placing the scientific facts of HIV/AIDS in their due perspective. We recognize the importance of scientific efforts for developing effective vaccine against the epidemic and the need for requisite support for achieving a breakthrough in such efforts. 

Through this Delhi Declaration emanating from the International Interfaith Conference it is resolved that:

• Our Religions and Faiths call upon us to take forthwith shared action for responding to the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

• The foundational principles enunciated in this Delhi Charter need to be translated into a framework of action for supporting the national AIDS control programme; and, for follow up for making an immediate impact on efforts for prevention, control of HIV/AIDS and for providing care and support to its victims.

• We commit our special expertise, experiences, resources and available healthcare structures for providing holistic healing and compassionate care and support to people with HIV/AIDS.

• this Conference supports the initiative to form a Task Group for consulting the stakeholders from different religions and faiths and spiritual traditions for forging an India Interfaith Initiative

• This Task Group after due consultations should develop a plan for taking forward India Interfaith Initiative to various regions of the country and for linking up with the global Interfaith Initiative.

We appeal to all religious and faith based organizations, spiritual movements and leaders at all levels to strive for aligning their actions and activities in accordance and contribute to strengthening the national response.