Christian leaders participating in the 16th International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2006) – the world’s largest HIV/AIDS conference – gathered yesterday ahead of the summit to examine how faith leaders would fulfill their promises and challenge governments and others to be accountable for their promises.
With the theme of “Faith in Action: Keeping the Promise,” the ecumenical and interfaith pre-conference will take place Aug. 10-12 at the University of Toronto.
Over 500 faith-based participants will hear and discuss central challenges to their response to HIV and AIDS, including working with the most marginalised people living with HIV, cooperating with multi-lateral and civil society organisations and networks, and fulfilling the promises faith groups have made in response to AIDS.
“Statements and promises have been made that give people hope,” said Linda Hartke, coordinator of the Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance, in a statement released on Tuesday by the World Council of Churches. “These words must be put into action.”
Key presenters at the gathering include the Rev. Rick Warren, senior pastor of Saddleback Church; Kay Warren, executive director of the HIV/AIDS Initiative at Saddleback Church; Bishop Mark Hanson, president of the Lutheran World Federation and presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America; Canon Gideon Byamugisha, founder of the African Network of Religious Leaders living with or personally affected by HIV or AIDS; Erik Sawyer, one of the founders of the AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power; and Dr. Peter Piot, executive director of UNAIDS, the joint U.N. program on HIV/AIDS.
AIDS 2006, slated for Aug. 13-18, expects to draw around 20,000 attendees from around the world to Toronto including policy-makers, researchers, non-governmental leaders, healthcare providers, activists, scientists, and people living with HIV.
Churches and church-related organisations in the Toronto area have formed a Christian Host Committee through the Canadian Council of Churches to support and facilitate the faith-based presence at AIDS 2006. The Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance provides overall coordination and support for faith-based participation through its secretariat and several international planning committees.
The Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance is a broad international network of churches and Christian organisations cooperating in advocacy on global trade and HIV and AIDS. The Alliance is based in Geneva, Switzerland.