wfn.org | WCC: HIV/AIDS consultation

["Miriam Reidy-Prost" <mr@wcc-coe.org>]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - 19/12/2003 - pu-03-52

Stigmatization and discrimination are a sin says WCC HIV/AIDS
consultation

Cf WCC Upcoming Events of December 2003

In an effort to develop a common strategy to respond to the
emerging HIV epidemic in Central and Eastern Europe, an
ecumenical meeting brought 40 representatives of 24 churches and
church-related organizations in 12 countries to St. Petersburg
from 15-18 December 2003. The meeting was held under the auspices
of the World Council of Churches (WCC) and its European Regional
Partnership Group (ERPG). 

Theological reflection was an integral part of the consultation
programme. In a "Memorandum of Intention", participants stated
their firm belief that all human beings are created in the image
of God and therefore have intrinsic value and dignity. People
with HIV/AIDS are loved and accepted by God and are full and
equal members of the human community. "Any form of stigmatization
or discrimination perpetrated against human beings," including
persons living with HIV, "violates this divine image and is
therefore a sin," the memorandum affirms.

Based on their theology and on an analysis of the ongoing
HIV/AIDS work of the churches and related organizations in the
region, participants declared their resolve to work on prevention
and care by ensuring that "our communities are fully informed
about the reality of this crisis and are equipped and willing to
act in a way to prevent the spread of this disease and to support
and sustain those who are affected by HIV/AIDS". "The battle
against HIV/AIDS... calls us to use all effective means of
prevention within a context of Christian ethics," they stated. 

The participants also expressed their determination to fight
HIV-associated stigma, especially against the most vulnerable
groups. People living with HIV/AIDS, women, children born to
HIV-infected mothers, prisoners and injecting drug users were
among the groups identified as being particularly vulnerable.
Referring to gender discrimination, "We must dare to focus more
on the rights of women and children and the particular issues of
sexual coercion and domestic violence," the memorandum says.

It urgently calls upon the churches and the related
organizations to strengthen their efforts and commitment to
reduce the spread of HIV infection and relieve the suffering of
all those affected by HIV/AIDS. And it notes that "Even though we
may have different approaches to certain issues, we are united in
the fundamental belief in the sacred worth of human beings and
that the gospel mandates that we love and respect all people
regardless of their circumstances." 

The full text of the memorandum is available on our website at:
http://www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/what/mission/petersburg.html

For further information contact Tatiana Kotova, Director,
Christian Interchurch Diaconal Council of St Petersburg at email
hiv-aids@cidc.ru or telephone +7 812 2771491 or Manoj Kurian,
Program Executive, Health and Healing, World Council of Churches
at email mku@wcc-coe.org or telephone +41 22 791 6323.

For more information contact:
Media Relations Office
tel: (+41 22) 791 64 21 / (+41 22) 791 61 53
e-mail:media@wcc-coe.org
http://www.wcc-coe.org

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The World Council of Churches is a fellowship of churches, now
342, in more than 120 countries in all continents from virtually
all Christian traditions. The Roman Catholic Church is not a
member church but works cooperatively with the WCC. The highest
governing body is the assembly, which meets approximately every
seven years. The WCC was formally inaugurated in 1948 in
Amsterdam, Netherlands. Its staff is headed by general secretary
Konrad Raiser from the Evangelical Church in Germany.