Live the Promise: HIV and AIDS Campaign.21/6/10

Over the last decade, there has been increasing advocacy by faith-based organizations against stigma and discrimination and for sufficient and sustainable funding to reach universal access.

Press Release Rights and faith to be addressed at AIDS conference Leaders of religious organizations, networks of people living with HIV and multilateral organizations headline a one-day multi-faith conference to be held on the eve of the 18th International AIDS Conference. The pre-conference, centered on the theme "Rights Here, Right Now: What's faith got to do with it?", will be held 17 July at the Technical University in Vienna.

Speakers include World Council of Churches' General Secretary Rev. Dr. Olav Fykse Tveit; Dr. Kevin Moody, International Coordinator and CEO of the Global Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS; Dr. Hany El Banna, CEO of The Humanitarian Forum; Dr. Kezevino Aram, Director of Shanti Ashram; and Ms. Jan Beagle, Deputy Executive Director, UNAIDS.

Plenary sessions will address how faith traditions can overcome barriers and work towards universal access to HIV treatment, care, support and prevention. Six breakout sessions will discuss practical and theological responses, faith-based advocacy, and the role of religious leadership in the response to HIV.

The Zimbabwean Betseranai Choir, composed of about 20 people living with HIV, will sing as part of the closing event for the pre-conference, which is expected to draw around 250 participants. Registration is still open here

The International AIDS Conference is the largest international conference on a single health issue. Held every two years, the IAC draws over 20,000 medical professionals and scientists, policy makers, persons living with HIV, and others working in the field of HIV and AIDS. This year's conference at the Reed Messe Wien takes place 18-23 July 2010.

Faith-based individuals and organizations have long been at the forefront in the response to HIV, particularly providing health care and support in poorly-resourced communities. Over the last decade, there has been increasing advocacy by faith-based organizations against stigma and discrimination and for sufficient and sustainable funding to reach universal access.

Information for the media: The pre-conference will take place 9:00am - 6:00pm at the Technical University in Vienna. There will be simultaneous interpretation in English, German and Russian for all plenary sessions and some breakout sessions.

The pre-conference is open to accredited media. Contact sspeicher@e-alliance.ch to register or to request an interview with speakers or participants. A media registration desk will be staffed beginning at 8:00 am on 17 July at the Technical University.

More information, including the complete program for the pre-conference and calendar of faith-based events at AIDS 2010 can be found here

For more information contact: Sara Speicher, sspeicher@e-alliance.ch, +44 7821 860 723.