The Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance has called on churches and national leaders to keep their promises on confronting the worldwide HIV and AIDS pandemic one month ahead of World AIDS Day on Thursday 1 December 2005.

The theme for this year’s World AIDS Day is “Keep the Promise”, calling for accountability in the promises made by governments and organisations, including religious organisations, in tackling HIV and AIDS.

|QUOTE|A press statement by the EAA read: “World AIDS Day is a unique moment when all of humanity is challenged to reflect on the way that HIV and AIDS affect us and how we can respond to the pandemic.

“You have an important part to play on that day through planning or participating in events at your church, your school, and in your community,” the EAA told Christians around the world.

The EAA also urged religious leaders and individuals who have made personal pledges to keep their promises: “The campaign 'Keep the Promise' holds individuals, religious leaders, faith organisations, governments and intergovernmental organisations accountable for the commitments they have made and advocates for further efforts and resources to fight HIV and AIDS.”

The EAA press release said: “The Alliance’s HIV and AIDS campaign is based on the knowledge that all churches are living with and affected by HIV and AIDS.”

|AD|It added: “The pandemic continues to be measured in alarming statistics around the globe, and churches and people of faith everywhere must take up their pastoral and prophetic role to overcome stigma and discrimination, to care for body and spirit, and to advocate for universal treatment and effective forms of prevention.”

The EAA has called on Christians to make plans for the Day, saying, “Let the politicians hear your voice, and let people living with HIV and AIDS feel your compassion and solidarity. Start planning now!”

The Christian body, which works predominantly for HIV and AIDS and also global trade justice, recommended members of the Christian community involve their church, youth group, women’s group or prayer circle engage with the world in praying for HIV and AIDS sufferers around the world.

The EAA also called on Christians to plan a special order of worship, with special liturgies and prayers on the weekend prior to or immediately following 1 December.

The EAA has adopted the global campaign theme, “Keep the Promise”, as the focus for its work over the next four years, but with the intention of giving it a specifically Christian perspective.

Other recommendations for active engagement on World AIDS Day included more modest initiatives like making a personal promise to fight HIV and AIDS and writing to political leaders.

More than 15 million children around the world will take part in “Lesson for Life” on World AIDS Day, which ran for the first time last year with the intention of looking at the effect of the crisis on children.