Children & Aids: African Religious Leaders Meet To Launch Continent-wide Campaign

Childreach
Saturday, 1 June 2002

Childreach/Plan, partner in the Hope for African Children Initiative co-sponsors inter-faith event in Africa to address impact of AIDS on children.

More than 120 senior African religious leaders convene today in Nairobi for a three-day assembly focusing on the role of religious communities in addressing the impact of the AIDS pandemic on children. Spiritual leaders are participating in a historic inter-faith meeting that aims to harness the moral leadership and untapped resources of religious communities in response to the devastating disease that is shattering African societies and leaving behind millions of orphans.

"At times religious leaders have not done enough on HIV/AIDS. Through our silence and denial we have contributed to increase stigma and exclusion of people living with HIV/AIDS and their families", says Twaib Mukuye, Deputy Mufti of the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council. "This meeting demonstrates our renewed commitment to confront a disease that is decimating our communities. As spiritual leaders we are here to publicly launch a continent-wide Jihad on AIDS."

Dr. William Vendley, Secretary General of the World Conference on Religion and Peace, one of the five core partners of the Hope for African Children Initiative and the lead organization hosting this event, calls this Assembly "a rare opportunity for African religious leaders to make their collective voices heard on a matter as devastating as HIV/AIDS. Religious leaders play a key role in African societies. They are opinion makers who have the capacity to further mobilize religious communities and expand care."

"'When religious leaders work together on a major issue such as AIDS, they not only improve their own capacity to respond, but are in a better position to leverage increased commitment from other leaders", explains Rev. Winston Njongonkulu Ndungane, Archbishop of Cape Town, an outspoken HIV/AIDS advocate. "Some of the solutions to this crisis already exist at the community level, what is lacking is the political will to make AIDS a global priority and the financial resources that would automatically come with that. So even though we are grateful for all that has been done in the areas of AIDS and debt cancellation, this is not enough."

It is estimated that 95% of the more than 13 million children who have been orphaned by AIDS live in sub-Saharan Africa. Children suffer profoundly as their parents fall sick or die. Their experience is often characterized by psychosocial distress, economic hardship, malnutrition and illness, withdrawal from school, fear and isolation, loss of inheritance, increased abuse and increased risk of contracting the virus themselves. Studies show that children who lose their parents to AIDS are more likely to suffer from abuse than children orphaned by other causes. This is largely a result of the stigma and discrimination so often associated with AIDS.

Religious communities are uniquely qualified to aid children. Faith-based groups are in the forefront of service-delivery efforts that cater to the needs of those who suffer and are poor. Over 85% of the population across Africa is actively involved in a religious institution, and religious communities are present in every place where children are feeling the impact of the pandemic. During the Assembly, delegates will visit sites around Nairobi that represent some of the most effective programs meeting the needs of children.

"Religious leaders have tremendous influence throughout Africa, and particularly at the community level where they have the moral authority to advocate for compassionate care and support for those who are HIV positive and for all vulnerable children", explained Dr. Pat Youri, Executive Director of the Hope for African Children Initiative. "Many quality programs that emphasize prevention and provide care and support for orphans and HIV affected families are run by faith-based groups. They have the moral leadership to reverse negative attitudes towards AIDS and to promote an enabling and caring environment."

At the end of the three-day assembly, delegates will adopt a Declaration and Plan of Action outlining the commitment of religious communities to address the rights and needs of children affected by AIDS.

For more information, or to contact Childreach, see their website at: www.childreach.org