wfn.org | U.S. Churches Call for Real Commitment to Fight HIV/AIDS

[Carol Fouke <carolf@ncccusa.org>]

National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A.
Contact: NCC News, 212-870-2227; news@ncccusa.org; www.ncccusa.org
NCC6/21/01 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CHURCHES CALL FOR REAL COMMITMENT TO FIGHT HIV/AIDS
Religious Groups Support New York March and Rally 6/23 As U.N. Special
Session Nears

June 21, 2001, NEW YORK CITY -- With negotiators still deadlocked over the
wording of the Declaration of Commitment for next week's United Nations
Special Session on HIV/AIDS, the National Council of Churches (NCC) and its
global Church World Service ministry today warned against the danger of the
meeting issuing a weak statement or none at all.

Given the seriousness of the AIDS crisis, the group warned, it is imperative
the June 25-27 meeting result in a substantive, strong declaration and a
real commitment from all nations, including the United States.

"So far, the pace and depth of the political commitment required to reverse
the global scourge of HIV/AIDS has not been forthcoming," remarked the Rev.
Dr. Bob Edgar, NCC General Secretary.  "We need a solid declaration from the
world's governments, not just old, empty rhetoric.  The Bush Administration
needs to show real leadership.  This issue must not be nickeled and dimed."

The NCC, the nation's leading ecumenical organization with 36 member
denominations comprising 50 million adherents, calls for a declaration that
supports the human rights of persons living with HIV/AIDS and takes steps to
protect vulnerable groups.  The group also calls for a sustained commitment
to $10 billion per year in multilateral resources to reverse the pandemic.

As a key participant in the Jubilee 2000 campaign, the group said it was not
satisfied with the low level of debt relief achieved and was calling for
deeper debt relief in light of the AIDS crisis.  In addition, the group is
asking the world's governments to ensure access and availability to drugs,
including generics, to fight AIDS and other infectious diseases.

To remind policy makers of the seriousness of the issue and the concerns of
many people of faith, the NCC and its global service and witness ministry,
Church World Service, have endorsed the three D's of the "Stop Global AIDS
Now" March and Rally set for Saturday, June 23, in New York City -
'Dollars', 'Debt' and 'Drugs'.

Several religious leaders will speak.  In addition to the NCC/CWS, religious
groups endorsing the event also include such national groups as the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the United Church of Christ, Church
Women United, the Union of American Hebrew Congregations, Maryknoll Office
for Global Concerns, Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, American Jewish
World Service and The Central Conference of American Rabbis.  A number of
local congregations are also actively involved.

"In the United States, this call for 'Dollars', the cancellation of 'Debt',
and 'Drugs' means marshalling renewed political will," explained Rev. John
L. McCullough, Executive Director of Church World Service.  "The United
States is still not doing its part, as one of the wealthiest nations in the
world, and has skewed priorities.  We must remind policy makers that
Americans want their government to respond to this crisis."

Many of the discussions at the U.N. General Assembly's Special Session on
HIV/AIDS will center on the Global AIDS Fund.

"Though the United States enjoys nearly 30 percent of the world's wealth,
our recent contribution to the Global AIDS Fund, a multilateral Fund
announced by U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan in May, was a paltry $200
million in redirected monies," continued the Rev. McCullough.

"We must do much more," he said.  "It is also critical that the Global AIDS
Fund provide for the bulk procurement of AIDS drugs, including generics,
AIDS diagnostics, and other AIDS commodities at the best world prices.
Governments and NGOs, especially those in developing countries, must be
assured direct access to financial resources to expand the full range of
programs for prevention, care, and treatment."

-end-