wfn.org | EAA - Faith groups emphasize action before International AIDS Conference

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

> Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance
> For immediate release
> 24 July 2008

Faith groups emphasize action before International AIDS Conference

Can religions do more in response to the AIDS pandemic? To address this
question over 450 representatives of faith-based organizations responding to
HIV and AIDS will gather in Mexico City, 31 July ­ 2 August, in advance of
the XVII International AIDS Conference.

Leading church, civil society, and government speakers will address the
Ecumenical Pre-Conference including:

·      Dutch AIDS Ambassador Paul Bekker

·      Rev. Mark Hanson, Presiding Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran  Church
in America
·      Kay Warren, Saddleback Church (USA) Msgr. Gustavo Rodriguez,
President of the National Social Commission in Mexico of the Catholic CHurch
·      Mtro. Emilio Alvarez Icaza Longoria, President of the Commission on
Human Rights of Mexico City
·      Dr. Jacob Gayle, Ford Foundation
·      Rev. Patricia Sawo, African Network of Religious Leaders Living  with
or Personally Affected by HIV and AIDS (ANERELA+)
·      Dr Purnima Mane, Deputy Executive Director, UNFPA
·      Sra. Beatríz Rebeca Jarero, Méson de la Misericordia Divina  (Mexico)

³Faith groups have taken a leadership role in many areas in the response  to
AIDS,² states Linda Hartke, coordinator of the Ecumenical Advocacy  Alliance,
which has led the planning for the conference. ³We hope that everyone
participating here will be inspired, re-energized, and challenged to expand
and strengthen our efforts.²

Plenary sessions over the three days focus on key obstacles and
opportunities to reaching the goal of universal access to prevention, care
and treatment. They include leadership, prevention, violence, vulnerability
of children and stigma and discrimination.

The XVII International AIDS Conference, probably the largest conference on a
single health issue, is the first to be held in Latin America. AIDS 2008
will bring thousands of participants from the academic, scientific, medical
communities, business, government, faith and civil society communities
together with positive people¹s networks. Over 33 million people worldwide
are living with HIV. The 2008 conference theme is Universal Action Now.

Churches and church-related organizations in Mexico have formed a Christian
Host Committee to support and facilitate the faith-based presence at AIDS
2008. The Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance provides overall coordination and
support for faith-based participation through its secretariat and several
international planning committees.

Notes for Media

Schedule and Speakers List for the Ecumenical Pre-Conference can be
downloaded at:
http://www.e-alliance.ch/iac2008/resources/Plenary_Background_Paper_List_of_
Plenary_Sessions.pdf

Media are welcome to attend the Ecumenical Pre-Conference. Press should
bring appropriate credentials, and inform the contacts below in advance of
attendance.

Extensive coverage, including photos, news, features, video and audio, of
faith-based participation at the International AIDS Conference will be
available beginning 31 July at http://iac.e-alliance.ch/ All material can be
reprinted free of charge providing credit is given to the source.

Sign up to receive a daily digest of the latest news and features, video and
photos, and other media products by sending an email saying ³subscribe  IAC²
to media@e-alliance.ch

Webcast: All Ecumenical Pre-conference plenary sessions will be webcast by
Kaiser Network at:
http://www.kaisernetwork.org/healthcast/ecumenical/31jul08

To set up interviews or for more information contact
Sara Speicher, sspeicher@e-alliance.ch, +44 1524 727 651 (until 29 July) or
+521 55 5075 2752 (July 30 ­ 9 August)

The Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance is a broad international network of
churches and Christian organizations cooperating in advocacy on global trade
and HIV and AIDS. The Alliance is based in Geneva, Switzerland. For more
information, see http://www.e-alliance.ch/