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of faith-based involvement will be available.
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Faith-based organizations will have a major voice at the largest global meeting ever of HIV and AIDS experts, highlighting the vital, but often unrecognized, role they play in fighting the spread of the virus and caring for those with it.
A wide range of organizations from Christian, Muslim, Buddhist and Jewish traditions will be represented at the 15th International AIDS Conference in Bangkok, Thailand, from 11-16 July. They will share how they meet the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of those living with HIV and AIDS and debate the challenges involved in combating stigma and preventing the spread of the virus.
The World Council of Churches (WCC) will support the participation of representatives from several grassroots organizations. It will also bring project manager Dr Christoph Mann and Southern Africa regional coordinator Dr Sue Parry of the WCC Ecumenical HIV/AIDS Initiative in Africa (EHAIA). This initiative, which aims to help churches in Africa become AIDS-competent, links them with northern churches and agencies, enabling access to information, training, networks and funding.
"Faith-based communities are accountable to their people for credible information, education and support that will mobilize them as communities that are competent to face the challenge of AIDS with all the resources that are available to them - including their faith," says Dr Manoj Kurian, responsible for the Health and Healing programme at the WCC.
With more than 100 faith-based organizations set to attend, the faith community will be the heart and soul of the conference. It will be an energetic participant, using art, dance and drama to show how these organizations are confronting the pandemic at the grassroots level.
The voice given by the conference to the faith-based community recognizes the massive range of work it is doing and the key role it plays in educating communities, shaping values and providing care. Past conferences tended to overlook this fact, yet in Africa, for example, church members are leading efforts to care for people affected by HIV and AIDS, especially children. In Thailand itself, Buddhist monks are active in the same way.
Ms Linda Hartke, coordinator for the Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance, says: “Faith communities and religious leaders all over the world have been judgemental and hurtful to people living with or affected by HIV and AIDS. At the same time, there are many examples of leaders who have rejected stigmatizing behaviour, and communities that have embraced people who are affected.
“As churches, we are still struggling to accept the reality that we are all living with HIV and AIDS," she states. “We have a huge task ahead of us to build communities of faith that welcome all and judge none.”
Faith-based pre-conference meetings
Representatives of churches and Christian organizations will meet 9-10 July to debate the challenge of HIV/AIDS under the theme “Access for all: the faith community responding”. The meeting will be held at the Ambassador Hotel in central Bangkok.
In a series of workshops, more than 250 global delegates will address sensitive issues such as abstinence versus condom use; the church, HIV/AIDS and sexuality; faith communities collaborating with networks of people living with the virus; and theological training on HIV and AIDS. Participants will examine how faith-based organizations can vamp up efforts to save lives by educating communities on the use of life-saving anti-retrovirals, work with media, and encourage people of different faiths to work together.
At the same time, Buddhist and Muslim groups will hold parallel conferences to address similar issues. On 10 July, an interfaith gathering will bring the three groups together for an orientation to the conference and to see how they can all work together.
Faith-based activities during the conference
In addition to a large number of presentations addressing issues that include HIV and migration, working with high-risk groups, developing home-based care, caring for orphans and vulnerable children, and converting HIV knowledge into behaviour change, the following activities are planned:
Satellite session
Mary Robinson, the former president of Ireland and ex-UN high commissioner for Human Rights, will moderate a session on “Combating stigma and discrimination: the role of religious leaders in building inclusive communities”. (12 July, 20:15-22:15, Room K).
Plenary presentation
Influential Ugandan leader, Canon Gideon Byamugisha, was the first HIV-positive priest in Africa to reveal his status and knows what a difference the church can make when it responds well. He will address Religion and HIV and AIDS in his speech to the main plenary session on 16 July, 8:30-10am.
Global Village spiritual corner
In the Global Village, a spiritual corner will feature events including Jewish ceremonies, Buddhist yoga, Christian worship and Muslim prayers.
Interfaith chaplaincy programme
Chaplains from various faiths will provide counselling and lead prayer during the conference.
Interfaith exhibit
In a shared space, up to 50 faith-based organizations will display and distribute materials that are informative, focused on best practices, and helpful for the work of others. (Stand Number 148).
Poster competition exhibit
The winning posters from a global poster competition against HIV- and AIDS-related stigma and discrimination, created by children, youth, adults and professionals, will be exhibited in the Skywalk between the IMPACT Exhibition Centre and the Convention Centre. A free CD-ROM of the posters and multi-lingual resources for grassroots education and advocacy against HIV- and AIDS-related stigma and discrimination have also been prepared and are available at www.e-alliance.ch/postercd/ or by e-mailing [email protected].
Media coverage
An ecumenical media team will provide daily feature articles and press releases in English, French, German and Spanish, photos, video and audio clips as well as a daily conference bulletin. All material can be viewed and downloaded free of charge at
www.e-alliance.ch/bangkok.jsp.
To subscribe to a daily e-mail digest of news stories and media products, fill in the short form at www.e-alliance.ch/iac_digest.jsp or write to [email protected].
The ecumenical media team can also assist in setting up interviews and serving as a resource for information on faith-based efforts on HIV and AIDS.
Contact the team at:
E-mail: [email protected]
Tel. (until July 4): +44 1524 771 885
Tel. (8-16July): +66 2 254 0444, ext. 1701
Mobile (July 7-17): +66 1 420 1454
Website of the 15th International AIDS Conference
The Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance, Norwegian Church Aid, the World Conference of Religions for Peace, and Catholic Relief Services have played critical leadership roles in faith-based planning for this conference, but many more organizations have contributed and supported the efforts through advisory committees and as participants.
The Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance is a broad international network of over 85 churches and church-related organizations cooperating in advocacy on global trade and HIV and AIDS. Among the participants are the World Council of Churches, The Lutheran World Federation, the YMCA and YWCA, Franciscans International, the All Africa Conference of Churches and the Presbyterian Church of Korea. The Alliance is based in Geneva, Switzerland. For more information, seewww.e-alliance.ch
