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Interfaith Pre-Conference on Reclaiming Rights of Children Affected and Living with HIV/AIDS in Asia
HIV/AIDS is a critical challenge for religious communities and invokes their concern and commitment than ever before. It is not only a health crisis, but a dilemma that affects basic human dignity and rights, including right to live, be healthy and access public services.
Every day, there are nearly 1,800 children infected with HIV/AIDS aged less than 15, mostly having mother-to-child transmission. Children are most vulnerable to be infected by this disease and suffer from something they are not responsible for. This crucial situation in terms of wellbeing for children put many questions in front of faith communities and families and need to be addressed adequately.
Following are the critical areas of concern in the issue of HIV/AIDS positive children:
Lack of knowledge and skills for parents taking care of the CLHA at home.
Declining of organisation providing care for the CLHA
Need for “life skills” for growing CLHA
How can the voices of the children living with HIV/AIDS be heard? How do the basic rights of the children living with HIV/AIDS be practically affirmed at all levels?
Dealing with HIV/AIDS is everyone’s responsibility. The fight against HIV/AIDS requires concerted action by all governments and sectors. Dealing with HIV/AIDS must move beyond the theoretical and legal debates to practical implementation of protecting the rights and dignity of people living with HIV/AIDS with a multi-dimension approach.
The faith-based organisations have been at the forefront of providing care and support, ever since the epidemic was first identified decades ago. However, today, we are called to lead in new ways to handle the crisis.
Considering the seriousness and urgency of the problems confronting by the orphans and children living with HIV/AIDS, it is necessary that the faith-based organisations actively participate and work side-by-side with other partners to fight against HIV/AIDS and make children’s voices to be heard. As many adults are not aware of what it is like for children to be infected with the HIV virus, it is also extremely important to reclaim the rights of the children affected and living with HIV/AIDS today.
As we are approaching the 17th International AIDS Conference in Mexico in August 2008, the CCA together with Asian Interfaith Network on HIV/AIDS (AINA), the CCT (Church of Christ of Thailand) AIDS Ministry and other NGOs are organising an inclusive 5-day Pre-Conference.
The conference is convened to enhance a comprehensive understanding, to increase awareness and sensitivity, to update knowledge and skills of community-based care, and to facilitate networking among member churches and councils to the orphans and children living with HIV/AIDS, their families and their care takers.
Project holders:
Christian Conference of Asia (CCA)
Asian Interfaith Network on HIV/AIDS (AINA)
The Church of Christ in Thailand–AIDS Ministry (CAM)
For further informations, please contact AINA secretariat;
E-mail: ainaasia@yahoo.com
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YMCA, Chiang Mai, Thailand |
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UPDATE! Extended Pre-Conference Deadlines
From: "EAA moderator"
Dear Friends,
Thank you to all those who have registered for the Pre-Conference and have been active in submitting plenary speaker nominations, workshop proposals, and applications to exhibit at the Interfaith Exhibition.
However, we know the deadlines have been tight for some of you and we
have been experiencing technical problems getting information to the listserv, so we are pleased to be able to inform you that the:
* PRE-CONFERENCE LATE REGISTRATION DEADLINE has changed from 14 March
to the 18 April
* WORKSHOP DEADLINE has changed from the 14 March to the 2 APRIL
* EXHIBITION DEADLINE has changed from the 1 March to the 2 APRIL
All the relevant forms are available for download at
www.e-alliance.ch/iac08_preconf.jsp
Registration for the Pre-Conference is online at www.regonline.com/eaa
If you have any questions or are confused by these changes please feel free to email epulsford@e-alliance.ch and we will try to get back to you as soon as possible. |
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Update!!!! The 17th International AIDS Conference, Mexico.
This is a reminder about impending deadlines for the International AIDS Conference to be held in Mexico City, August 3-8, 2008 (AIDS2008). Applications for most Conference programmes will close in February:
Closing date February 19, 2008
- Abstract Sessions
- Global Village Booths
- Cultural Activities
- Global Village Networking Zones
- Skills Building Sessions
- Youth Activities
Closing date February 26, 2008
- Scholarships
- Media Scholarships
For more information on how to get involved with AIDS2008, visit the
Guide to Community Involvement in AIDS2008 site at
www.aids2008communi ty.org or go
directly to the official website www.aids2008. org.
International Council of AIDS Service Organizations (ICASO)
65 Wellesley St. E., Suite 403
Toronto, ON
Canada M4Y 1G7
Tel: +1 416 921 0018
Fax: +1 416 921 9979
Email: icaso@icaso. org
Websites: www.icaso.org
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Dear All
The 17th International AIDS Conference IAC will be held in Mexico city, Mexico in August 2008.
Now the registration for the 3rd Ecumenical Pre-Conference to the International AIDS Conference 2008 have opened! The Ecumenical Pre-Conference is taking place from 31July - 2 August 2008 in Mexico City, Mexico.
**Please find here the links below;
1. For more details: www.aids2008.org
2. For the registration information : www.e-alliance.ch
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1 December 2007 -
World AIDS Day - U2charist
“TAKE THE LEAD –
STOP AIDS, KEEP THE PROMISE”
A Rock Service featuring the music of U2
(The programme will be broadcasted at The Church Service, Radio 4, RTHK, 11:05am on 2nd December 2007)
Time: 6 p.m.
Venue: St. John's Cathedral, 4-8 Garden Road, Central, Hong Kong
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2 December 2007 -
"HONG KONG IS OUR HOME”-EXPO
Time: 11am - 5 pm
Venue: Victoria Park, Central Lawn, Hong Kong
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5 December 2007 -
"Fund Raising Concert"
Cantorion Creigiau
Welsh Mixed Voice Choir (Cardiff, Wales)
Time: 7:30pm
Venue: St. John's Cathedral
4-8 Garden Road, Central, Hong Kong
**** For more information, please visit : www.sjhivctr.com
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The HIV Education Centre of St. John’s Cathedral (Anglican Church) was the first faith-based institution to undertake the AIDS ministry in Hong Kong. The Centre was established in 1995, with the goals of raising AIDS awareness amongst the general public, and of helping create an AIDS free society for our generation. Our services are offered free of charge and are available to anyone regardless of religion, sexual orientation or nationality.
The Centre’s main thrust in recent years has been towards helping prevent HIV/AIDS at the grassroots level and to educate local women, new arrivals from Mainland China, school youth, Asian migrant workers and the church community about their reproductive rights. Through these projects, a number of programmes have been developed amongst a section of the population whose needs have hitherto been unmet by activities of other governmental and non-governmental organizations.
At the international level, the Centre combines the energies and resources with many international women’s groups, faith-based organizations and UN agencies to aggressively fight the AIDS pandemic. For more information, please visit our website www.sjhivctr.com.
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IPC Update...6
Colombo: Vaccine or no vaccine - no compromise with the demand for a dignified life had been the battle cry in the 8th ICAAP, currently being held in Colombo , Sri Lanka .
20 August was the day for a number of activities including plenary, symposia, oral abstract sessions, satellite meetings and skills building workshops. The plenary had distinguished speakers including JVR Prasad Rao (UNAIDS), Annmaree O’Keeffe (AusAID), Prof. N.M Samuel (IAS) and Anandi Yuvaraj (PATH).
In his presentation ‘From Kobe to Colombo – overview of the epidemic in AP Region’ J.V.R Prasad Rao discussed the emerging threats in the HIV/AIDS scenario, objectives achieved, existing gaps and major challenges encountered.
In his observation, the recent trend of the epidemic shows, that there is no sharp increase in Philippines and Sri Lanka whereas in four of the high prevalence states in India (Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu ) it has either stabilised or has come down. This he named as the ‘good news’.
Identifying some of the developments, the speaker shared that in recent years fourteen countries have set ambitious targets and nine countries made national plans. There has been also major scale of resources involved in the projects. ATR coverage has increased and networks of marginalised groups have emerged. These, according to Prasad Rao are the major victories.
He also set an agenda for future Asia and Pacific which according to him should include fighting denial and complacency along with promoting and sustaining continued AIDS activism. This also included prioritising resources for reducing infection, universalising coverage of ATR services, promoting education program on sex for young men and women. Scaling up of interventions, addressing the issues of orphans and vulnerable missing children was also part of the agenda. “The global battle on HIV/AIDS has to be own in Asia…” was one of his concluding remarks which aptly reflected the importance of the stake and role of Asia in countering this pandemic.
Annmaree O’Keeffe spoke on ‘leadership and partnerships - invigorating our response’.
According to her, the impact of AIDS is cross border and intergenerational. It is an economic, justice, business and also a women’s issue.
Explaining the various dimensions for successful interventions she said that partnership between public, private, faith based organisations, media and civil society organisations is absolutely important. She further emphasised that “we need just not money but leadership to plan for the long term. We are all partners in this response and silence is not simply the option”.
Her presentation was followed by Prof. N.M Samuel who shared significant information on the ‘Outcomes from the Pathogenesis Conference’ in Sydney . The last presenter was Anandi Yuvaraj who spoke on ‘Positive Prevention for PLHIV and its impact on HIV prevention in Asia ’. Anandi passionately advocated for a supporting environment at home and the community for the PLHIV.
Apart from the plenary the symposia titled ‘Recognising HIV and AIDS as a development issue’ was also an important segment where Ann Grant vice chairman of Standard Charted Capital Markets Ltd, London shared how the corporate sector has been open for innovative interventions in terms of education and information dissemination.
A number of concerns were addressed during the day’s deliberation which included; feminisation of the AIDS epidemics and its impact in the region, scaling up HIV prevention in India, the workplace - a gateway to universal access for prevention, treatment, care and support for HIV/AIDS, harmonisation of the regional cooperation on counter action to HIV spread in Central Asia.
Reported by
Sagarika Chetty |
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IIPC Update... 5
Colombo: The 8th International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific
(ICAAP) themed 'Waves of Change - Waves of Hope' started on 19 August,
2007
brining together 2,500 delegates from the Asia and Pacific region.
Affirmation, articulation and exploration of hope in the vitality and
vulnerability of life were the spirit of AICAAP 8 opening ceremony.
More
than two thousand delegates are taking part in the event bringing
including
stakeholders such as politicians, government officials, community
workers,
medical professionals, academics, journalists, representatives from NGO
and
INGOs, faith based organisations and communities, civil society
organisations and people living with HIV/AIDS.
The opening ceremony witnessed a synergy of perspectives as multiple
key
stakeholders came together. Along with the Sri Lankan National
leadership
the international dignitaries present were Prof. Myung Hwan Cho
President
ASAP, Dr. Peter Piot Executive Director UNAIDS, Michel Kazatchkine -
Executive Director GFATM President of Lanka, representative from Fiji
Network for People Living with HIV/AIDS, representative of regional
community forum and interfaith networks.
The political leadership of Sri Lanka shared its enthusiasm and best
wishes
for the 8th ICAAP. Referring to the adverse conflict situation as a
groundless projected deterrent for the event the Minister of Health
Care and
Nutrition, Hon. Nimal Siripala de Silva expressed his pleasure for the
successful holding of the Congress in Sri Lanka. In his address the
Honourable Minister said, "I thank you for placing utmost confidence in
our
country and government."
The President of Sri Lanka his Excellency Mahinda Rajapakse emphasised
his
belief in political leadership to be a vital catalyst in transforming
societies. "What we do as leaders now will be remembered in the future
and
will have a direct impact in the lives of future generations", he said.
Stressing on the serious engagement by the governments he further
added,
"The challenge of HIV/AIDS is so great that we as political leaders
must
give it the high priority, because denial of the crisis can have
serious
consequences on economic social advancement and the very future of our
societies."
As a guiding principle for the vision of holistic life the President
also
shared and proclaimed his belief in Buddha's noble words saying Arogya
Parama Labha (good health is the greatest gain). His closing note was
Ayubova! (May you have the blessing of long life) - a befitting wish
for the
delegates whose presence in the Congress symbolised the Asian and
global
challenges from health and development perspectives.
Jokapeci Tuberi Cati from Fiji Network for People Living with HIV/AIDS
shared her own experience in the struggle for care, concern and
dignity. She
also acknowledged the vital role of ecumenical bodies like the World
Council
of Churches in inviting local communities for proactive engagement in
actualising the vision of inclusive, just and caring society.
A statement from the Regional Community Forum was also presented in the
ceremony. Demands for just and dignified treatment in all aspects of
life
was emphasised .One of the presenters Rachel Ong shared her
disappointment
as she observed that none of the opening speakers represented HIV/AIDS
infected people.
This segment was followed by the statement of IIPC and the interfaith
blessings offered by Pharamaha Boonchuay Doojai (Sirindaro). On the
closing
note Dillain Joseph presented the 8th ICAAP song, followed by the
welcome
reception.
ICAAP 8 brings in the threats, hopes, prospects and challenges with
regard
to the most crucial pandemic of our times. It represents the global
community that is passionately engaged in the quest for fullness of
life
with dignity, justice and peace. In the next five days this community
is
going to deliberate on a range of vital issues including Universal
Accessibility to Well- being, the Ethical Dimensions of Science and
Technology, Appropriate Development, Food Security and Good Governance
from
the marginalised sections' perspective - with special emphasis on the
epidemic affected and infected community. It will also explore the
possibilities of integrated approach to deal with this issue more
efficiently.
Best wishes to this collective effort! May ICAAP 8 herald new ways for
holistic health and well-being.
Reported by
Sagarika Chetty |
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IIPC Update..... 4
Colombo: The statement from the Faith-based communities was presented by Pra Maha Boonchuey Doojai, Chairperson of AINA to the 8th ICAAP, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
IIPC FINAL STATEMENT
19 August 2007, Colombo Sri Lanka
Representing the major religions of Asia, we were participants at the International Interfaith Pre-ICAAP Conference, organized by Asian Interfaith Network on AIDS (AINA), Christian Conference of Asia and the World Council of Churches on the theme “Response of Faith Communities to HIV and AIDS -Have We Kept the Promise?”
Having deliberated for three days on the role of faith communities in addressing HIV and AIDS, we recognize that the values of our religions compel us to respond to the human suffering caused by HIV and AIDS in our communities. These values also provide a unique and distinctive contribution to the overall response to the AIDS pandemic.
Recognizing the dignity, sacredness, rights and responsibilities of individuals and communities, we are committed to work to overcome HIV in an inclusive manner, mobilizing the human, spiritual, institutional and financial resources that our faith communities possess.
We dedicate ourselves to face the reality of HIV in our societies, to assess the needs in our communities and to prioritize our responses, considering our strengths and comparative advantages. We will also seek to identify and overcome our weaknesses, building on our achievements to make our communities competent in dealing with HIV and AIDS. To be accountable to the people we serve and the wider society, we will also ensure assessment of our progress and the impact we have in our own contexts.
In many ways, religious organizations have already been active in addressing all aspects of HIV and AIDS from raising awareness to providing treatment, care and support to those affected. But we know there is much more we must do, and we are committed to ensure that the tremendous social assets and competencies of our faith communities are energized to engage religious leaders, build partnerships and mobilize communities.
Engaging Leadership
We believe that religious leaders can and must play a constructive role in the response to HIV/AIDS. We are committed to educating and mobilizing the leaders to advocate, educate and lead by example in their respective faith communities.
We will develop tools to train the leadership so that they can be effective public voices for raising awareness and reducing the stigma and discrimination so often associated with HIV and AIDS.
We will work to ensure that religious leaders at all levels are equipped to provide accurate, evidence-based information on preventing the spread of the virus, while at the same time focusing on the values and teachings in our faith traditions that also contribute to reducing HIV infections.
Building Partnerships
The enormity of the challenge requires partnerships of unprecedented range and scope. We as faith communities are resolved to develop new partnerships and to strengthen existing ones with other sectors.
We are committed to work in solidarity with people living with HIV and AIDS. We acknowledge that we have not done enough in this area, and have at times contributed to their sense of exclusion and stigmatization. We will work to build trust and to create inter-faith partnerships with positive networks at country, regional and local levels and encourage positive networks within our own communities. We are convinced that by working together we can defeat stigma and discrimination and create inclusive communities.
We emphasize the special role that inter-faith cooperation has played in building bridges across faiths and in helping us to address the challenges posed by HIV and AIDS more effectively. We are committed to strengthening such partnerships based on mutual respect and focused on our shared values of human dignity, compassion, and love.
We are committed to strengthen AINA as an effective interfaith network at the regional level, so that it can advocate for the role of faith-based organizations, support national interfaith networks and help share information and coordinate our collective response to AIDS in Asia and the Pacific.
We are also committed to expand our partnerships with governments, UN agencies, NGOs, and other key actors to ensure that our faith communities have the financial, human, and material resources we need to be successful in controlling the pandemic. We are ready to work together, but we urge these sectors to respect and support the unique values and approaches that we as religious communities bring, even as we commit to respect their unique roles.
Mobilizing Communities
We believe that the response to the pandemic has to be centered in the community, and we commit to building caring, equitable communities that lead the way in supporting affected persons, encouraging openness, reducing stigma and discrimination, and addressing social inequities.
We will utilize the structures of our faith communities -- our places of worship, the educational and health facilities, our women’s and youth organizations – to provide the full range of prevention, treatment, care and support services.
We will work to incorporate HIV and AIDS information in appropriate ways into our worship rituals, our festivals, our religious education and training of future leaders.
We will also engage our faith communities in holding our governments and other international actors accountable for the commitments they have made to provide increased resources and to work towards universal access to treatment, prevention, care and support services.
In closing, we see this gathering as a starting point for closer cooperation in the future and are committed to carrying out follow up efforts in our countries and across the Asia-Pacific region.
In all these commitments, we seek guidance and support from the divine spirit that animates us and is the source of our being, so that we may play our part in “keeping our promises” to overcome HIV and AIDS and bringing healing and hope to all humanity.
By Dr.Prawate Khid-arn,
CCA general secretary
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IIPC Update.... 3
Colombo: “I can live with HIV but cannot live with discrimination” lamented a HIV + brother at the International Interfaith Pre-ICAAP Conference (IIPC) held at Ceylon Continental Hotel, Colombo, Sri Lanka, as a run up to the ICAAP 8 conference.
Speaking out in frustration against stigma and discrimination and the judgmental attitude of religious leaders, the Positive people did not forget to mention with gratitude the generosity and compassion of a few who put them back to living a normal life.
Stating that co-operation of religious leaders is a high priority area with many international organizations, the speakers called for the recognition of the unique role of religious leaders and the power and respect they command in Asian communities. They said that the time had come to respond to the threat and urgency of HIV and AIDS which demanded more from all the people involved in fighting AIDS, and challenged us to convert conversations to commitment and thought to action.
Presentations from experts from organizations dealing with HIV and AIDS, positive people and religious leaders, made it clear that the lack of ownership on the part of the leaders was a major constraint and that this had to be addressed by sensitizing the leaders, involve them directly with project planning, implementation and policy making.
Hitting out strongly at stigma and discrimination the participants called for coming together as an informed community that would use their “hands and hearts for compassion”.
The role of Religious leaders in combating HIV and AIDS was reiterated quite forcefully by leading Indian Lawyer and activist for the rights of PLWHA, Mr. Anand Grover, Director of Programs, World Conference of Religions for Peace, and Partnership Adviser, UNAIDS Ms. Sally Smith, Moderator, AIDS-ASIA, Mr. Joe Thomas and other distinguished panelists who discussed the scope of Faith Communities in partnership with Government and other actors with respect to Access to care and Support.
Stating that the treatment of PLWHA in hospitals was discriminatory and traumatic not only to the infected, but also towards the family and care givers, Mr. Anand Grover said that Anti retroviral drugs were not available to all, thus making them wait for long periods of time without medication. Referring to the Novartis and Abbot episodes, he pointed out that the struggle to manufacture drugs at cheap rates would be an ongoing one, and that if this isn’t taken up then it would be a setback to the PLWHA, as ART drugs reduces the viral loads, increases the immune system and decreases the transmission of the virus, which is of great public health value. The access principle, added Sally Smith, is that responses of stakeholders should be equitable, accessible, affordable, comprehensive and sustainable.
The speakers affirmed that, care and support, from Faith based organizations would be better than government hospitals, as their emotional support structure would give them comfort, confidence and dignity in life.
There were inputs about the role of the Muslim society in the fight against HIV and AIDS by Ms Anggia Ermarani from Indonesia, and about the success story of the tremendous work the Catholic Church is doing through the Health Commission of the Catholic Bishop’s Conference in India, by Dr. John Tharakkan and Mr. James Valiath.
The sessions were followed by workshops and concerted opinions from different Religious groups of how to “Move Faith into Action”.
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Sri Lanka lowest in World AIDS index
Prior to the 8th International Conference on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific to be held in Colombo, Sri Lank from August 19-23, 2007, the Sri Lanka-Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry announced that Sri Lanka has the lowest HIV/AIDS prevalence in the world, with 886 HIV infections and 165 fatalities reported as at June 2007. The source said that among the 886 HIV infected persons were 516 men and 371 women while child victims numbered 27. Of the 886 HIV infected persons, 243 developed AIDS.
Caitlin Wiesen, UNDP Regional Center in Colombo addressed a press briefing on August 17, 2007 said a recent research conducted in India shows that 79 per cent of AIDS widows were denied a share of their husbands’ property and 90 per cent expelled from their marital homes.
“In Papua New Guinea 60 per cent of the new infections are among women while in Thailand housewives account for 40 per cent of the new cases,” she said.
Source: Daily News, August 18, 2007
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IIPC Update...2
Religious leaders called to be more inclusive
Participants to the International Interfaith Pre-ICAAP Conference
(IIPC)
filled in the convention hall listened to series of sharing and
presentations from religious-based organizations that provided services
to
the people living with HIV and AIDS.
Six panelists from Buddhism, Islam, Christianity and Hinduism
highlighted
best practices of faith leaders and workers in the region. It was
followed
by sharing of four people living with HIV and AIDS who shared his/her
personal experiences and reaction by friends, family and community
after
knowing their infection.
The conference entirely agreed it is important that the religious
leaders
came to the forefront in raising awareness and building a new social
attitude towards the people living with HIV and AIDS. It further
pointed to
the need for religious faith and teachings to be translated into a
framework
of action and to make resources available for providing holistic
healing and
compassionate care and support to people with HIV positive people and
AIDS
patients.
There is a need to ensure sustained access to preventive and treatment
services for all high-risk groups. The goal of prevention is best
achieved
through an ongoing process, open to change and flexible to adaptation.
To ensure ongoing usefulness of public health policies related to HIV
prevention, religious leaders must learn to synthesize old knowledge
with
new, and, at the same time, utilize opportunities to choose new
directions.
Before dinner, each of the faith groups met independently to share
experiences and consolidate common understanding and strategies to
battle
HIV and AIDS.
Two statements- Muslim pre-conference and the Ecumenical Advocacy
Alliance
(EAA)- regional meeting were read to the plenary.
IIPC Media Team
Colombo |
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IPC Update
..........................................................
Colombo: International Interfaith Pre-ICAAP Conference on HIV and AIDS
(IIPC) commences in Colombo.
The three-day International Interfaith Pre-ICAAP Conference on
"Response of
Faith Communities to HIV and AIDS- Have We Kept the Promise" began this
morning, August 17th, 2007, at the Ceylon Continental Hotel in
Colombo,
Sri Lanka. The Pre-Conference was held in spite of tight security, as
Sri
Lanka faces a situation of critical, political confrontation between
the
Liberation Tiger of Tamil Elam (LTTE) and the ruling Government.
The conference, convened just before the 8th International Conference
on
AIDS in Asia and the Pacific (ICAAP VIII 19-23 August 2007), brought
together over 200 delegates representing four major religions, namely,
Christianity, Buddhism, Islam and Hindu from 19 countries "to take
stock of
the role played by religious communities, faith-based organizations and
networks in the area of prevention, care, counseling and advocacy and
their
successes and failures in combating HIV and AIDS".
The conference began with inter-religious prayers symbolizing the
religious
and cultural diversity in Asia.
Dr. Prawate Khid-arn, General Secretary of the Christian Conference of
Asia
(CCA), in his welcome speech challenged the religious leaders by
saying:
"let the communities of faith speak out with clear, prophetic and moral
voices, calling for an end to the suffering and death bred by this
global
pandemic."
Emphasizing that all religious and faith based communities could play a
unique role in the campaign against HIV and AIDS, he underlined the
fact
that HIV and AIDS was not only a health crisis but also a crisis that
harmed
basic human dignity and violated human rights...the right to speak, the
right to live with dignity, the right to survive and the right to
access
public services.
Dealing with the issue of HIV and AIDS, he said, is actually a struggle
to
find the correct balance between the rights and responsibilities of
individuals and communities. We must move beyond the theoretical and
legal
debates to practical implementation of protecting the rights and
dignity of
people living with HIV and AIDS. Promises, he added, are important.
Promises
are made to be kept.
The Pre-ICAAP meeting, will look into the work done by Faith based
organizations in this context, reflect on the role and responsibility
of
religious leaders, discuss elaborately on strengthening access to care
and
support, explore the scope of faith based organizations in partnership
with
government agencies and other networks, and decide on "Moving Faith
into
Action." It will also discuss challenges and adopt strategies for
future
course of action. At the end of the conference, the statement and
practical
recommendations emerging from the deliberations will be forwarded to
the 8th
ICAAP.
The statement of commitment by religious leaders who met in Bangkok in
2004
called upon religious communities to "shared action" for responding to
the
HIV and AIDS epidemic. Three years have passed in pursuing common
goals;
still, much is to be done in the years ahead, to have a world free from
HIV
and AIDS, and to ensure fullness of life.
The thematic discussion of the pre-conference include
§ Highlighting best practices of faith leaders
§ Sharing experiences from a faith perspective by persons
living
with the virus
§ Strengthening access to care and support
§ Moving faith to action
IIPC Media Team
Colombo
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Dear Faith Partner,
We are pleased to present the Proposed Programme of the International Interfaith Pre-ICAAP
Conference on HIV to be held at the Ceylon Continental Hotel, Colombo, Sri Lanka, from 17th to 19th August 2007. This is being organized by Asian Interfaith Network on AIDS (AINA), and supported by Christian Conference of Asia and the World Council of Churches
**For futer more details, you can download at the link below here;
1. ICAAPPreConfRegForm
2. IIPC.interfaith_programfinal
3. Invitation to Pre ICAAP8, Sri Lan ka
4. Proposed Programme
***To download the files, pleas click the link.
If you have any question please contact to-
Asian Interfaith Network on AIDS, email:ainaasia@yahoo.com
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Ceylon Continental Hotel, Colombo, Sri Lanka, |
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AIDS Festival 2007 "Stop AIDS, Act Now!
Uniting All Against AIDS"
Organize by St. John's Cathedral HIV Education Centre. For more information, please contact Ms. Elijah Fung / Ms. Debby Lai
St. John's Cathedral HIV Education Centre
4-8 Garden Road, Central, Hong Kong
Tel: (852) 2523 0531 Fax: (852) 2523 1581
Website: www.sjhivctr.com or
manager@sjhivctr.com/general@sjhivctr.com
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Chater Road Pedestrian Precinct, Central, Hong Kong |
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Pre-ICAAP-8 Intra and Interfaith Conference
“Response of Faith Communities to HIV and AIDS”.
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Colombo, Sri Lanka
for more details please contact AINA at ainaasia@yahoo.com or Fr.Philip Kuruvilla.. email: philipk@cca.org.hk |
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