Keep women on agenda, says World YWCA as religious leaders commit to visible and active leadership on HIV
HIV and AIDS has been the World YWCA’s priority issue for nearly a decade.
High level religious and spiritual leaders from many of the world’s major religions pledged “stronger, more visible and practical leadership in the response to HIV” as the first global High Level Summit of Religious Leaders on HIV concluded in The Netherlands on March 23.
World YWCA General Secretary Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda along with some 40 Baha'í, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim and Sikh leaders met together, March 22-23, with the Executive Directors of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the AIDS Ambassadors of The Netherlands and Sweden, leaders and representatives of networks of people living with HIV and other organisations active in the response to HIV.
Participants affirmed in their concluding statement the “renewed sense of urgency” to prioritise and strengthen the response to HIV. Such response includes “holistic prevention” in addition to reaching universal access to treatment, care and support. The statement called for the “Universal respect for the human rights of all people living with and affected by and at risk of HIV infection” and the “respect for the dignity of every human being”. Leaders also called for “a massive social mobilisation” to support services for women to eliminate the transmission of HIV from mother to child.
HIV is the leading cause of death and disease among women of reproductive age 15-49 years worldwide. “As the pandemic becomes more feminised, it is important for religious leaders to build on the capacity and leadership of women and girls at the frontline of the HIV response, “ says Nyaradzayi.
“As a faith based organisation, we have an important role in providing health worldwide and this is critical for so many women and young women who urgently need support. The World YWCA calls on religious leaders to invest in women and girls, ensure the safety and security of women and girls and end stigma and discrimination that continues to drive the HIV pandemic.”
The World YWCA convened the first international conference on women’s leadership and HIV and AIDS in July 2007. The International Women’s Summit on Women’s Leadership on HIV and AIDS united over 2000 people, mostly women, including HIV positive and young women, to deliberate on how to address gender dimensions of the pandemic and define key action points. Over 4000 people have since signed the Nairobi 2007 Call to Action and accompanying pledge for action adopted at the Summit.
Religious leaders at the High Level Summit also drafted and personally signed a pledge to commit themselves to strengthened efforts to respond to HIV. The pledge includes “deepening meaningful engagement with people living with HIV” and “acting decisively to protect human rights within my faith community; through collaboration among other religious leaders of different faiths; and by influencing local, national, regional and global decision-making processes on HIV.“
"Religious leaders can play a vital role in the AIDS response," said Michel Sidibe, UNAIDS Executive Director in his opening address to the Summit. "By promoting community solidarity they can prevent new HIV infections and ensure that people living with HIV are treated with dignity and respect”, he said.
He also noted that a meeting such as this where religious leaders engage in discussions with people living with HIV is bridging the gap between religious leaders and people vulnerable to HIV.
The summit also stressed the importance of examining cultural and religious traditions and texts in order to bridge the gap between the religious message and the life people in the communitis live.
This global summit aimed to strengthen the vast ongoing efforts by religious leaders and communities in responding to HIV. Since the beginning of the HIV epidemic, religious communities, mosques, temples, churches, hospitals and clinics have reached out to provide support to those living with and affected by HIV.
The Summit was organised by the Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance and Cordaid, with support from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, UNAIDS, International Network of Religious Leaders Living with or Personally Affected by HIV or AIDS (INERELA+), the World AIDS Campaign and the European Council of Religious Leaders (Religions for Peace).
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