Religious Leadership in the Response to HIV

THE NETHERLANDS —Over 60 high level religious leaders, people living with HIV, and global leaders will gather in The Netherlands, 22-23 March, for a summit that aims to strengthen religious leadership in the response to HIV.

Invitations were made based on nominations from religious and partner organizations, with careful attention to criteria set by the steering committee and ensuring religious diversity, geographical balance and gender representation. Among the participants are His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Art of Living Foundation; His Holiness Tep Vong, the Great Supreme Patriarch of Cambodia; His Holiness Abune Paulos, Patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church; Archbishop John Onaiyekan, Archbishop of Abuja, Nigeria; The Most Reverend Thabo Makgoba, Archbishop of Cape Town; Rabbi David Rosen, American Jewish Committee; Sheik Mohammed Gemea, Al Azhar University; Rev. Dr. Olav Fyske Tveit, General Secretary, World Council of Churches; Ms Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda, General Secretary, World YWCA; and Mr. Michel Sidibé, Executive Director, UNAIDS.

The Reverend Dr Richard Fee, in his capacity as the Chairperson of the Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance will be in attendance. Reverend Fee is General Secretary of the Life and Mission Agency of The Presbyterian Church in Canada.

The Summit aims to promote understanding among high level religious leaders on the need for visible and affirmative engagement on HIV and AIDS and to mobilize their support for advocacy and action.

The Summit is being planned by an Interfaith Steering Committee convened by the Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance who is helping to coordinate the project along with Cordaid in The Netherlands. The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs is an important contributor and supporter of the Summit. UNAIDS, INERELA+ and the World AIDS Campaign are collaborating partners represented on the steering committee.

Financial Support is being provided by the Dutch and Swedish governments, European Council of Religious Leaders (WCRP), Cordaid, ICCO and Kerk in Actie, Prisma, AIDS Fonds, UNAIDS, World Vision International, American Jewish World Service, Marion and Stanley Bergman, and the Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance.

Click here for more information on the Summit.