Faith leaders can play a key role in the fight against the HIV pandemic if their public statements help combat stigma and discrimination, a meeting of faith groups in Vienna in advance of the 18th International AIDS Conference has heard.
“Public positions and statements of some faith-based organizations have at times been unhelpful, or even harmful,” the Netherlands AIDS ambassador Marijke Wijnroks told a multi-faith conference in July. “Deeply judgmental comments … have alienated people at risk and contributed to stigma and discrimination.”
The conference was organized by a working group convened by the Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance. Rev. Dr. Rick Fee, general secretary of the Presbyterian Church in Canada’s Life and Mission Agency, attended the meeting as chair of the EAA.
“I was amazed at this conference to see, meet with and listen to the children of the HIV generation,” he told the Record in an email. “These people, born HIV positive, are now young, articulate people who are asking about their lives.” — ENI
