Faith at AIDS 2018

Providing space for networking, learning and advocacy among people of faith responding to HIV and AIDS


You are here: Home / Faith at AIDS 2018

Faith at AIDS 2018

The faith-based response to HIV and AIDS has become more visible and integrated because of the increased engagement and coordination of faith-based representatives over the past International AIDS Conferences. The faith-based presence at AIDS 2018 is expected to vibrant and engaging, but even more integration is needed in the global strategy if we are to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.
Faith at AIDS 2018

Challenging inaction with compassion, faith leaders march through Amsterdam at AIDS 2018. Photo: Albin Hillert/WCC

There are many programmes, spaces and activities to learn and share as people of faith during AIDS 2018, 23-27 July.

Download the overview of our faith-based contributions, in English or Dutch (pdf).

Download schedule of Global Village - Faith Building Bridges Networking Zone, Day by Day (pdf).

Download High Level Schedule Faith Building Bridges & Joint HIV Prevention and Testing Zones (pdf)

Joint schedule WHO, UNAIDS, Unitaid and WCC-EAA Global Village space (pdf)

Interfaith event: Faith Building Bridges

Under the theme "Faith Building Bridges", an affiliated event to AIDS 2018 takes place in the Amsterdam Planetarium on 21-22 July 2018.

The programme and discussion will focus around how faith groups and leaders can, should and are building bridges to more effectively eliminate AIDS, with particular attention to marginalized groups. Tentative topics include: migration and HIV; children, adolescents and HIV; substance abuse and HIV; and people at the margins.

More information: The Interfaith event

Global Village

The WCC-EAA will be hosting an Interfaith Networking Zone at the Global Village providing a dynamic space for exchanges, resources and workshops. In addition to the Faith Networking Zone, this year WCC-EAA will organize a networking space on prevention and testing, together with UNAIDS and WHO.

Interfaith Prayer Service

A service memorial will be organized in Amsterdam. For more information, stay tuned to information posted under News and views.

Chaplains programme

In partnership with the International AIDS Society, the WCC-EAA organizes a room at the conference venue as an Interfaith Prayer Room. This will be open and accessible to all conference participants.

Some ten interfaith chaplains and young counsellors will lead faith-based prayer and worship sessions during the conference, and are available for informal counselling and spiritual support to conference participants.

For more information, stay tuned to information posted under News and views.

 

Global Organizing Committee

A Global Organizing Committee plans the Interfaith event and sets the overall direction, priorities, policies and related planning for faith-based activities coordinated and supported by the WCC-EAA at AIDS 2018.

Members of the Global Organizing Committee include:

  • Ulysses W Burley III, UBtheCURE / WCC-EAA
  • Francesca Merico, WCC-EAA
  • Willeke Kempers, ICCO / WCC-EAA
  • Julie Love, Cordaid
  • Christina De Vries Cordaid Ruard, Cordaid
  • Annewieke Vroom, Free University Amsterdam
  • Ruard Ganzerovoot, Free University Amsterdam
  • Martha Teijma, Desmond & Leah Tutu Legacy foundation
  • Peter F. Borges, Human Touch
  • Rev Okechukwu Kalu lro, Presbyterian Church of Nigeria
  • Appiah Seth Christopher Yaw, THE RID PROJECT-Kumasi
  • Yessica Kansil, GEPSULTRA
  • Edwin Sanders, Metropolitan Interdenominational Church
  • Toni Kruger-Ayebazibwe, GIN-SSOGIE
  • Marsha Martin, Global Network of Black People Working in HIV (GNBPH), United States
  • Stuart Kean, WCC-EAA
  • Rick Bauer, Maryknoll/CHAN
  • Lyn Van Rooyen, CABSA
  • Flavia Kyomukama, GNP+
  • Khadijah Abdullah, RAHMA
  • Tyler Fuller, Emory University
  • Ahoua Kone, Emory University
  • Mimi Kiser, Emory University
  • Dave Barstow, Empact Africa
  • Sally Smith, UNAIDS
  • Julienne Munyaneza, PEPFAR/UNAIDS
  • Michael Keefer, Center For AIDS Research at University of Rochester
  • Megan Neubauer, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

 

Faith at AIDS 2016

Global Village

An interfaith networking zone at the Global Village provided a dynamic space for exchanges, resources and workshops.

Interfaith Prayer Service

An interfaith service open to all was offered at the Emmanuel Cathedral in the city of Durban during AIDS 2016 on 19 July.

Chaplains programme

Since the 15th International AIDS Conference in Bangkok, Thailand (AIDS 2004), the Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance has led the facilitation of an Interfaith Chaplains Programme. In partnership with the International AIDS Society (IAS), a room at the conference venue was designated as Interfaith Prayer Room and was open and accessible to all conference participants. Ten interfaith chaplains led faith-based prayer and worship sessions during the conference, and were available for informal counseling and spiritual support to conference participants.

Ecumenical Media Team

A small team captured faith-based events and news with photos, videos, stories and coverage on social media.

Faith Roadmap for AIDS 2016

For the schedule of faith-related events at AIDS 2016, download the Faith Roadmap at AIDS 2016 (pdf, 375 KB). The roadmap outlines key activities, seminars, exhibitions and networking areas for faith-based participation at the International AIDS Conference in Durban 2016.

Also available for download is a booklet of activities for the Black AIDS Institute and the Community Science Empowerment Project.

Press conference and informal press briefings:

Religious leaders, faith-based representatives and key global partners responding to HIV will speak to media in several press briefings about the challenges and opportunities in the faith-based response to HIV, globally and locally.

All events were recorded:

Faith and the Super Fast Track for Children living with HIV:

Chip Lyons, President and CEO, Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation
Msgr Robert Vitillo, Secretary General, International Catholic Migration Commission
Astrid Berner-Rodoreda, HIV Policy Advisor at Bread for the World, Germany
Stuart Kean, Senior Policy Adviser - Vulnerable Children and HIV & AIDS, World Vision International

Challenges and Opportunities for Collaboration in the Faith-Based Response:

Archbishop Thabo Makgoba, Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town
Rev. Michael Schuenemeyer,
United Church of Christ, USA
Ms
Sandra Thurman, chief strategy officer, PEPFAR
Ms Sally Smith,
senior advisor for faith-based organizations, UNAIDS

Meeting the local and global challenges of faith response to the AIDS epidemic:

Rebecca Duerst, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Anggia Ermarini, Fatayat NU (civil society organization), Indonesia
Rev. Claudia Soliette Lopez,
Nicaraguan Lutheran Church of Faith and Hope
Rev. JP Mokgethi-Heath,
Policy Advisor on HIV and Theology, Church of Sweden
Rev. Fr Wilfredo Ruazol,
executive assistant to the Supreme Bishop of the Philippine Independent Church
Rev. Edwin Sanders,
senior servant, Metropolitan Community Church, USA

Please see the AIDS 2016 Media Guide for more information.

The Cartography of HIV and AIDS, Religion and Theology

Download this new and important  partially annotated bibliography (pdf 4,6 MB) put together by CHART, the Collaborative for HIV and AIDS, Religion and Theology and published January 2016.

There are currently no items in this folder.