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South African National Interfaith AIDS Conference: 22-23 May 2002
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On 22 - 23 May, Faith-Based organisations met to consider a way forward with respect to issues of HIV/AIDS and Reproductive Health. This was the first conference of the Southern African region of the African Forum and was held in partnership with the World Conference on Religion and Peace.
The theme of the conference was "People of Faith United in Action on HIV/AIDS". The focus was on developing a proactive inter-faith plan of action around HIV/AIDS, with delegates challenging Faith-based leadership and committing themselves collectively to a "Statement of Intent" and action plan for the coming year.
Statement of Intent:
· We as people of different faiths believe in adopting a theology of love, compassion, responsibility, dignity and non-judgementalism when dealing with people living with HIV/AIDS.
· We believe that the strengthening of family and moral values will decrease the incidence of HIV/AIDS in South Africa.
· We believe that education and openness around sex and sexuality will break the silence
· We openly condemn the stigma and discrimination of people living with HIV/AIDS.
· We have observed the pessimism of the youth due to the uncertainty of their futures. As people of faith, our faiths call us to hope and optimism based on visions of a future with promises and possibilities.
· We recognise unity in diversity and encourage open discussion and dialogue around sensitive issues.
· We affirm the need for us to exercise leadership and in so doing making HIV/AIDS a priority in our communities.
The delegates of the African Forum for Faith-based Organisations in Reproductive Health and HIV/AIDS and World Conference on Religion & Peace South African National Interfaith HIV/AIDS Conference recommend the following as a suggested plan of action and way forward:
· Religious leaders should be in the forefront in the onslaught against the HIV/AIDS pandemic, showing compassion, love, empathy and non-judgementalism.
· Religious leaders should promote family values, recognising the diversity of the family structure.
· Religious leaders should promote programmes which dispel stigma, superstition and ignorance.
· Religious leaders should facilitate educational programmes with their communities which enable pro-active responses.
· Religious leaders should take the lead in advocacy and lobbying for access to treatment, resources and care for all those affected and infected by HIV/AIDS.
· We urge our religious leaders to call a special united Indaba focusing on addressing HIV/AIDS proactively in our country.
We are committed to developing a National Plan of Action within one month of this conference and this will be made available widely. The Plan of Action will include the following:
· Within the next three months, each delegate commits to actively engage at least two religious leaders and work with them to identify what they can do and are willing to do to address the challenge of HIV/AIDS.
· Each delegate commits to actively involve at least two religious leaders in a provincial or national meeting/conference, which should take place within one year.
· Each delegate/province commits to developing an organisational Plan of Action to take the work forward within each organisation.
We, the delegates attending the conference of the African Forum for Faith-Based Organisations in Reproductive Health and HIV/AIDS and World Conference on Religion & Peace South African National Interfaith HIV/AIDS Conference affirm our commitment and support to this Plan of Action.
[For participant contact list, programme, powerpoint presentations and other related documents, download relevant documents in right-hand corner of this page. Powerpoint presentations are by Dr Balwant Singh: Introduction to the African Forum of FBOs in Reproductive Health and HIV/AIDS; Prof. Quarraisha Abdool Karim: MTCT & Gender; Cati Vawda: HIV Prevention and Access to Treatment; Dr. Andrew Robinson: Developments in the AIDS Vaccine] |
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