|TOP|Church of Scotland representatives will be among the nearly 30,000 people set to descend on Toronto, Canada, for AIDS 2006 - the 16th International AIDS Conference.

The ecumenical and interfaith pre-conferences will take place under the theme ‘Faith in Action: Keeping the Promise’ during which time more than 500 participants will reflect on the challenges posed by the pandemic.

The faith groups and representatives will also evaluate the action taken so far and plan strategies to strengthen responses at the grassroots and international levels.

Nigel Pounde, co-ordinator of the Church of Scotland’s HIV/AIDS Project, said: “People of faith have been active in the grassroots task of caring for people living with HIV for years. But too often they’ve been on the margins, ready to offer support but not willing to get really involved. Too often some of us in the churches have actually made things worse.|AD|

“That’s why the Kirk recognised at this year’s General Assembly that HIV stigma and discrimination continue to act as barriers to effective prevention and care - and confessed it’s been involved in unwitting and unthinking stigmatisation of people living with HIV."

The main conference, to take place from 13th to 18th August, will be held under the motto ‘Time to Deliver’ and brings together representatives of the academic, scientific and medical communities, as well as NGO and corporate representatives, policy makers from governmental organisations, and the representatives of positive people’s networks and faith-based organisations.

Participants will share latest research, initiatives, best practice and innovative responses as well as identify key areas for further advocacy.

"The Kirk is committed to turning its faith into effective HIV action, both here in Scotland (where we’ve had record numbers of new HIV infections reported in 2005) and in supporting our partners round the world," added Nigel Pounde.

"But we need to build effective partnerships if we’re to keep our promises and overcome ignorance and prejudice about people living with HIV. So I’m looking forward to finding encouragement and getting a renewed vision from the people I’ll meet in Toronto."