UNAIDS, UNFPA, UNWomen (as part of the United Nations Inter-Agency Task Force on Religion and Development), the World Council of Churches - Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance, the Wijngaards Institute for Catholic Research, and Islamic Relief USA will co-host a symposium to launch three reports examining the intersections and areas of contention between health, human rights and lived theology:

• Religion, Women’s Health and Rights: Points of Contention, Paths of Opportunities - a joint UNFPA –NORAD paper
• Dignity Freedom and Grace: Christian Perspectives on HIV, AIDS and Human Rights (Paterson and Long, 2016) published by the World Council of Churches
• Promoting good health and good conscience - The Ethics of Using Contraceptives (Wijngaards Institute)

The reports address the taboo issues faith communities encounter when seeking to address sexual and reproductive health challenges, and propose theological and practical responses that simultaneously respect the tenets of faith traditions.

As a side-event of the UN General Assembly, “Keeping the Faith in Development” will explore areas of conflict and the “faith-full” ways to resolve them, with participants invited to put forward recommendations for action to help achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

The panel will be comprised of authors, religious scholars, faith leaders & secular international development representatives. Confirmed speakers include: Rabbi Burton Visotzky, Jewish Theological Seminary; Imam Shamsi Ali, president of Nusantara Foundation; Mr Luis Mora, UNFPA; Ms Sally Smith, UNAIDS; Mr Luca Badini-Confalonieri, Wijngaards Institute; Ms Gillian Paterson, Heythrop College, London, Ms Julie Clague, University of Glasgow, Mr Ulrich Nitschke, International Partnership for Religions and Sustainable Development (PaRD) and Ms. Safira Rameshfar, Baha'i International Community.