WCRP/HIVAN Religious Leaders and HIV/AIDS Researchers Forum - November 2004

The World Conference on Religions for Peace (WCRP) and HIVAN (Centre for HIV and AIDS Networking) co-hosted their final forum of the 2004 programme series for religious leaders and HIV/AIDS researchers on 24 November at the University of KwaZulu-Natal?’s Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine.

The topic, which focused on mothers and orphans in the era of HIV/AIDS, was informed by the words of Stephen Lewis, UN Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa: ?“The best way to deal with our orphans is to keep their mothers alive?”. In sharing experiences and perspectives on these concerns, the gathering observed the ?“16 Days of Activism?” campaign to eradicate violence against women, which runs from 25 November to 1 December 2004, World AIDS Day.

The programme commenced with a welcome address by Paddy Meskin, introducing the subject of ?“Women, Children and HIV/AIDS?”. She recalled the origins of the Forum Series and its objective of facilitating multidisciplinary, multi-sectoral dialogue and information-sharing around various topics related to the epidemic. ?“Some of the issues we?’ve discussed over the last few years have been highly contentious,?” she remarked, ?“because religious attitudes towards subjects such as condom use, vaccines, casual sex and the like are vitally important in the struggle against HIV/AIDS.?”

?“On the eve of the ?’16 Days of Activism against Women and Child Abuse?’ Campaign, we note that sadly, despite all the legislation and lobbying, violence against women is not decreasing ?– indeed, it is increasing. So, as we head towards World AIDS Day on 1 December and Human Rights Day on 10 December, we are deeply aware that the human rights of women and children have never been more violated than they are being right now. This is why we wanted to ensure that our Forum Series sustains the levels of relevance for which it has come to be known.?”

?“At a symposium of the Hope for African Children Initiative held in June 2002,?” she explained, ?“Stephen Lewis put forward the resolution encapsulated in his comment about keeping HIV-positive mothers alive and well: ?‘The projected statistics for the orphan population and number of child-headed households in the coming decades are so daunting that we simply cannot stand by without mobilising urgent action in our faith communities ?– because these communities are amongst the largest in our society. This places a huge responsibility on the shoulders of our religious leaders, but they have a pivotal role to play in breaking down the stigma, denial and silence that drives the pandemic.?’?”

?“What other form of organisation has the opportunity to talk to its members almost every week ?– a captive audience waiting for their words of wisdom? Unfortunately, not all of our faith leaders use that time wisely, and although there have been much progress, there is still a ?‘theology of punishment and sin?’ being relayed, rather than a theology of love, compassion and acceptance. We urge all faith communities to ensure that they establish an HIV/AIDS desk in their offices ?– because no faith communities are immune to the impact of the pandemic: we are all affected by this disease.?”

At the HACI 2002 conference, Stephen Lewis had pointed out that in sub-Saharan Africa, the orphan population was expected to exceed 13-million, and that in human terms, in history, in the literature on vulnerable children, there has never been anything like HIV/AIDS. He stressed the need for adults everywhere to understand the depth of these children?’s loneliness, despair, rage, bewilderment and loss, saying that even though they might experience periods of happiness and support, at the heart of their individual being, there would be a lifelong void.

He called for a change in communal values through sustained repetition and education, the abolishment of the requirement for school fees, and the establishment pre-school facilities for younger children. Reflecting on the moral issues at stake in this crisis, Lewis challenged his audience thus: ?“Why should a ?‘just society?’ ?… allow such a state of affairs? What is most emotionally difficult is meeting with young women who know they?’re dying, and they ask me frantically, what?’s going to happen to my children? Who will look after them? And what about us? In the last analysis, religious leaders have contacts everywhere that support you and fund you, and your religious sway is not just in Africa, it?’s throughout the world...That?’s what your God, whatever name you may call him, would want you to do.?”

Paddy concluded: ?“The suffering of our mothers and children is plain to see if we take the time to visit places such as the Valley of 1000 Hills, or Ndwedwe, or the squatter camps on the fringes and byways of our city.?” She ended her talk with a poignant poem entitled ?“Nothing to call a family - Killing the future?”, recited at the HACI meeting by Salim, aged 7, an orphan who was very ill with AIDS.

Representing the Youth Peace Forum, Jacqui Joshua read a short extract from Babiza?’s Story, authored by 10-year-old Siphelele Ndlovu. This publication is the first in a recently launched series produced by UNESCO-MOST, MiET Africa (Media in Education Trust) and HIVAN, called ?“By Children for Children?”, which enables children to share their stories of courage, creativity and resilience with other children. The series is inspired by the Convention of the Rights of the Child, which states that children have the right to freedom of expression in a variety of media including print and art, and the right to a voice in matters that affect them. ?“Babiza?” (Siphelele?’s nickname) willingly shared his story with Jill Kruger, Deputy Director (Social and Behavioural Sciences) at HIVAN, who is also the South african Director of UNESCO-MOST?’s ?“Growing up in Cities?” Project.

She read Siphelele Ndlovu?’s account of precious moments he has spent with his mother, who is living with HIV. ?“Sometimes Mum will come home with plastic bags. If I ask what is in there, she will say: ?‘It is nothing.?’ Then I will go to the bedroom and see her covered by the blanket and I will hear crunching! And I find her eating chips maybe. When she is eating chips I will get in the bed with her and we will eat chips together and then we will just talk. I like my mother?’s bedroom because it smells nice and that?’s also where I was healed when I was sick and had pneumonia. I slept in my mother?’s bedroom after I was discharged from hospital.?”

The full write-up can be accessed on the righthand side of this page.