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Christian Conference of Asia
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Interfaith AIDS Conference: FOR WE ARE NEIGHBORS November 21-25, 2003, Bangkok, Thailand 1. General Situation It is clear that HIV/AIDS is not a single global epidemic but the sum of multiple epidemics with common features but with different characteristics, which need to be understood within each local context. The situation calls for a strong political will, economic support and socio-religious commitment from all Asian governments, non-governmental organizations, business sector and religious community organizations to ensure that HIV/AIDS and its multi faceted problems are recognized and critically addressed. People around the world know HIV/AIDS, but at our time many of them, especially in remote communities, don?¦t know well how to prevent its transmission. The reason for the lack of knowledge concerning AIDS transmission and protection is the lack of proper educational information of HIV/AIDS and how to prevent it. Asia and the Pacific accounts for one in every five new HIV/AIDS infections worldwide. Over 8million people were living with HIV/AIDS at the end of 2002, of whom 2.6million were young people aged 15to 24. Finally, the people living with HIV/AIDS have to stop daily work and leave their jobs. They have changed from being the family supporter to being a liability for their families, thus adding to the burden on scarce resources. Many have to take their children out of school or have to be taken care in the orphanage home, food consumption goes down, or elderly people are left to take care of themselves and the children. 2. Religious Challenges As HIV/AIDS is an ongoing crisis, cuts across geographical boundaries, class, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicities and age group, requires a sustained and sustainable response at multi-sectoral and multi-faith levels. The 14th International AIDS Conference held in Barcelona midst 2002 called for wider cooperation to combat HIV/AIDS. The faith-based communities have been recognized and invited to work side by side with scientists, health workers, government and secular non-government organizations. Religious communities, institutions, organizations and groups are challenged to transcend religious fundamentalism, overcome our mistrust of other religious groups, and reach out to people living with HIV/AIDS and their families in humility and love. We need to find the common platforms for action, recognizing that each everyone is a member of one family and working together to build caring communities where all are accepted. It is in this working together that we find our common humanity. HIV/AIDS is not merely a health issue, but also a major ?§life crisis?¨ of the spirit, the mind and the environment, due to socio-economic and political pressures. From this perspective, involvement in HIV/AIDS concerns is of ?§rethinking?¨ human relations, social understanding, forgiveness, reconciliation and unity. Recognizing the wide range in fighting against HIV/AIDS, faith-based communities are also challenged to adopt an inter-sectoral and holistic approach to ensure the basic human rights of the people living with HIV/AIDS is protected. Capacity-building initiatives could focus on clergy, lay leaders, women, youth groups, and staff of the church institutions and include training in program management, communication and counseling skills, documentation, monitoring and evaluation, and value-based education. In light with these situations and challenges, the Interfaith Committee initially comprising of people from Christian [Protestant and Catholic], Buddhist and Muslim, is organizing the ?§Interfaith AIDS Conference: For We Are Neighbors?¨ 3. Objective The Conference aims to bring leaders and community workers of faith-based communities and religions together to find a common understanding and cooperation by which an intensive effort against HIV/AIDS crisis could be launched. The program finally brings the HIV/AIDS issues into the mainstream concern for inter-sectoral and inter-faith cooperation. Specific Objectives: 4. Participants About 60 delegates from various religious communities namely Christian, Buddhist, Muslim, Bahai, Hindu,etc. in Asia, secular NGOs, related government offices and ecumenical partners are invited. 5. Date and Possible Venue November 21-17, 2003 Royal Benja Hotel 39 Sukhumvit Road, Soi 5, Bangkok, Thailand Tel; +66-2-6552920, Fax: +66-2-6552959, 6557370 E-mail: reserve@royalbenja.th.co 6. Main Agenda The Conference covers the following major agendas: 7. Tentative Agenda and Schedule The Conference is inclusively a 5-day program that includes: Day 1 Arrival and opening session Day 2-4 Conference [details will be given] Day 5 Departure 8. Expected Results At the end of the workshop, it is expected that: It is also expected that the final document, recommendations and resolution of the conference will be share to delegates to the International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific [ICAAP], which will be held in Kobe, Japan from November 27 to December 2, 2003]. For more information and sending application, Please contact: Dr. Prawate Khid-arn Christian Conference of Asia 96, 2nd District,PakTin Village Mei Tin Road, Shatin,N.T.,HongKong Tel: +852-26911068, Fax: +852-26923805 E-mail: prawate@cca.org.hk Rev.Sanan Wutti CCT-AIDS Minitry 100/1 Rattanakosin Road [Doi Sakhet Kao] ChinagMai 50000, Thailand Tel: +66-[053]-306310, Fax: +66-[053]-306330 E-mail: cam@chmai2.loxinfo.co.th posted by Prawate on Monday, June 09, 2003 |
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