Damascus meeting on role of religious leaders in fighting HIV/AIDS in the Arab states
Regional-Syria, Health, 8/14/2004

HIV/AIDS Regional Program for the Arab States (HARPAS), a program initiated by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) since 2002, is holding the Technical Experts Meeting being the first step of launching the Religious Leaders and HIV/AIDS Initiative.

The opening ceremony, chaired by H.E. Mr. Mohammed Ziyadeh, Syria's Minister of Awqaf, was recently held at the Meridien Hotel, The Religious Leaders and HIV/AIDS Initiative in the Arab States was launched by UNDP in partnership with the United Nations Joint Program on AIDS (UNAIDS), the US Agency for International Development (USAID), and Family Health International (FHI).

In this first step, the dialogue of Muslim and Christian Technical Experts as well as HIV/AIDS resource persons from the Region, will allow reaching a consensus on HIV/AIDS message and approach to be adopted by religious leaders given their role as essential actors, able to help shape social values and norms and to influence public attitude and national policies related to HIV/AIDS.

This needs a big shifting of the current speech on "punishment" towards positive values included in the holy books, such as, promotion of protective behaviour, education, solidarity, compassion and support for people affected by HIV/AIDS, fighting stigma, discrimination and rejection.

The Damascus consensus will serve to prepare the next larger inter-religious dialogue colloquium that will take place in Fez, Morocco, in November 2004 and will focus on mobilizing regional religious leadership for creating a supportive environment for people affected and generating social transformation in order to reverse the epidemic curse in the context of the Arab Region (currently more than 700,000 people are infected by HIV/AIDS in our Region and it constantly increasing).

It is worth mentioning that the Religious Leaders and HIV/AIDS Initiative is ambitious and will help breaking the silence in the Arab region by increasing stakeholders and allies from the leadership of Arab societies, because the Arab states are the only region in the world where it is still possible to stop the AIDS spread if all stakeholders make commitment now.

Religious leaders are essential actors in a successful response to HIV/AIDS as they have legitimacy and a durable presence in local communities, particularly those hardest hit by the pandemic. They help shape social values and norms, which is critical to ending stigma and discrimination related to HIV/AIDS. They are also well positioned to influence public attitudes and national policies related to HIV/AIDS.

In the religious message frequently dispensed, HIV was equated with "a curse," and those who lived with it were viewed as "sinners." Mosques and churches tend to point a finger at people living with HIV, instead of adopting a caring and compassionate response. From there, a huge problem arises. While religious people/leaders could work hard to help decrease the disease, some are actually adding to the stigma and discrimination associated with it. Lack of gender equality had also contributed to the spread of the virus, by not allowing women to make choices about their lives.

But a deeper look into the religious texts and original practices shows that there are many values and positive aspects that can be positioned as entry points to deal with HIV and its social dimensions: these include respect of life, compassion, reduction of vulnerability, caring without judgment, solidarity, responsibility, education through good example, respect of women's choice regarding marriage.

Family is also central in religious teachings, and often, addressing the needs of children affected by HIV/AIDS is the easiest way for religious leaders to take part in creating a unified and positive message to ending discrimination and stigma that surrounds the HIV/AIDS.

Many religious leaders have already taken a stand against stigma and discrimination and have brought awareness to their communities regarding the plight of AIDS orphans. The disease is not only destroying families and communities today, but is also threatening the next generation. It is said that the virus infects 500,000 young children every year. The rate of infection increases very quickly among young people of 15-24 years. The number may be double before the year 2010.

Given the low presence of HIV in the region and its hidden face due to the pressure of stigma combined to the risk of discrimination and rejection of more than 700,000 citizens, religious leaders have a tremendous role to play in increasing awareness, stimulating an effective political response, creating a supportive environment for people affected and generating social transformation in order to reverse the epidemic curse in the context of the Arab region.

To make this process possible, and to further break the silence in this region by increasing stakeholders and allies from the leadership of Arab societies, with enlighten commitment by religious leaders, this ambitious initiative launched and financially/technically supported by UNDP, needs large partnership and involvement of several partners. These include: UNAIDS (ICT-MENA, Cairo And Best Practices Division, Geneva) for technical/l financial support, advocacy in mobilizing countries, identifying resource persons; UNICEF (Regional Office, Amman) for technical and financial support and identifying resource persons; USAID (Cairo Office & West-Africa HIV/AIDS Project) for Technical support and links with Best Practices in Islamic communities launched in Mauritania; UNIFEM (Regional Office, Rabat) for technical issues linked to gender; UNFPA (Regional Office) for technical and financial support linked to gender; World Bank for technical and financial support linked to multi-/inter-sectoriality; and UNESCO (Hqs, Paris) for technical/financial support in relationship with the previous initiative on "Cultural Approach to HIV/AIDS," Fez June 2001.

A meeting was held in Damascus in June Participants: (Up to 20) 7-8 Muslim Technical experts and 4-5 Christian Faith Technical expert, and 6-7 resource persons, experts on HIV/AIDS.

A first day of introduction to the topic allowed for a conversation for consensus around (i) the methodology and process, then the common values and aspects in both religions that need to be raised as basis for a new religious leadership taking into consideration the HIV/AIDS pandemic and for formulating the key messages to support prevention, education and reduction of stigma, exclusion and discrimination. During the 2nd and 3rd days, two technical meetings (one for Islam and one for Christianity) will take place in parallel, to focus on the specific aspects and messages, followed -in day 4- by a sharing and consensus meeting, on the up-coming phases.

Objectives of Damascus meeting were identified as follows: Present and discuss situation analysis paper; Recommendations for overreaching HIV/AIDS message and approach to be adopted in the region by religious leaders; Recommendations for key resource people to involve in Phase IV of the Initiative and what major leaders, groups, houses of worship (mosques, churches) and religious schools to contact for consultation; Recommendations for standardized interview procedures for Phase IV; a Core Group, "Advisory Expert Panel" to be involved in all the initiative phases; Media strategy to be used during all phases of the Initiative; Canvass feedback on modifications of Religious Leaders Kits and recommendations for a gender mainstreaming in all phases of Initiative.

Previous Stories:
  World Bank warns of spread of HIV/AIDS in Middle East, North Africa   (11/21/2003)
  Every year, 800,000 babies are born with HIV; one in twenty women tested   (9/24/2003)
  AIDS awareness sessions to target parliamentarians and journalists   (7/19/2003)
  Damascus hosts Syrian, German, Lebanese neurosurgery conference   (3/15/1999)
  First Arab children's dentistry conference opens in Damascus   (11/26/1998)

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