Faith groups hear call to tackle HIV and AIDS

Leaders of different faiths from around the world have been urged to work together in tackling HIV and AIDS.

The meeting brought together some 200 representatives of the Christian, Jewish and Islamic faiths from Africa, Asia and Europe.

Deputy Executive Director of UNAIDS, Jan Beagle asked the leaders to help confront discriminatory laws, such as those that criminalise homosexual relations and sex workers.

She said faith groups could bridge science, culture, religion and communities.

“There is much more that unites us than divides us, in our response to HIV. We are all in this together. Success depends on our collective efforts,” she said.

“Sometimes we can find ourselves with very different perspectives on these thorny issues and we need to strive towards dialogue and approaches that work to save lives, that empower people living with HIV, women, and marginalised groups within societies to take leadership roles within their communities to eliminate stigma, discrimination and violence.”

The General Secretary of the World Council of Churches, the Rev Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, spoke of the need for people of faith to work with HIV sufferers regardless of their theological convictions.

“If we replace HIV in that question with any other disease, why shouldn’t faith compel us to do everything we possibly can to tackle the disease? Our faith compels us to act and not to get stuck in discussions we don’t need, such as about sin,” he said.

The meeting was held on the eve of AIDS2010, a biennial AIDS conference bringing together 20,000 health workers, scientists, academics, grassroots workers and HIV and AIDS sufferers.

Veena O’Sullivan, HIV Unit Manager for Christian development agency Tearfund, said that the church had an unparalleled reach in the developing world, where it is has been a vehicle for mobilising thousands of volunteers to care for HIV and AIDS sufferers.

She stressed the need for the church to engage in the HIV and AIDS without prejudice or discrimination.

“The church’s record is not unblemished. Judgmental attitudes, which see HIV as a punishment for sin and immorality, have contributed to creating another epidemic – of stigma and discrimination,” she said.

“HIV is not a moral judgement but a virus that can affect anyone. It is vital that the church acknowledges and addresses harmful attitudes where they remain.”