UNITED NATIONS AIDS REVIEW: INTERFAITH PRAYER SERVICE
Contacts:
Sara Speicher 646-468-0673 sspeicher@e-alliance.ch Bob Johnson 212-378-0244 johnson@stbarts.org
-----MEDIA ALERT-----
President of the UN General Assembly, Under Secretary General
of the United Nations, Deputy Executive Director of UNAIDS,
Religious leader living with HIV, among expected speakers at
interfaith prayer service on eve of UN review of global plan to eradicate AIDS.
Press conference with Archbishop Njongonkulu Ndungane,
Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town, and Canon Gideon Byamugisha,
founder of the African Network of Religious Leaders Living with or
Personally Affected by HIV/AIDS, to precede service.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK- May 26, 2006: Bahá'ís, Buddhists, Christians, Friends, Hindus, Muslims, Shintos, Sikhs and Zoroastrians will pray side-by-side at St. Bartholomew's Church for renewed commitment to overcome AIDS. The service is on May 30th - the eve of the United Nations' Comprehensive Review and High-Level Meeting on AIDS - during the 25th year of the HIV/AIDS pandemic.
The service will start with a procession of clergy from all over the world, bells tolling 25 times - one for each year of the pandemic - and will include a message by the Secretary General Kofi Annan delivered by Deputy Executive Director of UNAIDS, Ms. Deborah Landey. Under Secretary General Ms. Thoraya Ahmed Obaid will share a message of hope. The President of the General Assembly, H.E. Mr. Jan Eliasson, will provide a call to action as representatives from all UN member states prepare to review progress and set new goals in eradicating AIDS.
Performing artists will include Tibetan Singing Bowls, the Lavender Light Gospel Choir, Simply Skins Female Drum Group, and the Stonewall Chorale.
The interfaith service is planned by a New York-based committee and supported by more than 70 organizations including UNAIDS, Office of the United Nations Church Center Chaplain, World Council of Churches, Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance, and Islamic Cultural Center of New York.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
AT ST. BARTHOLOMEW'S CHURCH (Park Avenue at 51st Street)
ON TUESDAY, MAY 30:
5:00 pm - 5:45 pm
PRESS CONFERENCE with key faith leaders active in the UN Review, including: ---Archbishop Njongonkulu Ndungane,
Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town and ---Canon Gideon Byamugisha,
founder of the African Network of Religious Leaders Living
with or Personally Affected by HIV/AIDS.
6:00 pm - 7:15 pm INTERFAITH PRAYER SERVICE
Media covering the service should register at the Media Desk--located in the church lobby of the Park Avenue entrance--for press information, badges and access to reserved media sections.
Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance: http://www.e-alliance.ch