The 16th International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2006) closed Friday with mixed feelings of hopefulness and impatience over the rate of global response to the epidemic. However, among the improvements at this year’s conference was the increased representation and involvement of faith groups – a category of participants that has a history of being underrepresented at the conference.

|PIC1|Some 24,000 delegates from 132 countries attended AIDS 2006 including researchers, activists, politicians, and major funders. Faith groups made a more visible and organised appearance this year that included more than 500 faith leaders attending the Ecumenical and Interfaith Pre-Conferences that were held in Toronto a few days before the opening of AIDS 2006 to examine and coordinate how faith leaders can fulfill their promises and challenge governments and others to be accountable for their promises at the world’s largest HIV/AIDS conference.

Well-known Christian leaders such as the Rev. Rick Warren and his wife Kay Warren, Bishop Mark Hanson of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), and Canon Gideon Byamugisha of the African Network of Religious Leaders Living With or Personally Affected by HIV or AIDS were among the keynote speakers at the pre-conferences and attendees of AIDS 2006.

Moreover, Christian organisations including World Vision, Salvation Army, Church World Service, and Christian Aid attended the conference.

However, faith groups were still significantly underrepresented at the conference according to a report from Religion News Service. Faith groups pointed out privately that subjects relating to faith were rarely seen in the program.

|AD|Moreover, few faith-based groups were represented among the exhibits in “The Global Village” section of the conference which allows for dialogue on key HIV-related issues, activities, and solutions, reported RNS. The Global Village hosted nearly 400 events and cultural activities during AIDS 2006 according to its organisers.

“It can be discouraging,” said Ken Casey, World Vision Special Representative to the President for the HIV and AIDS HOPE Initiative, to RNS at the conference. “There is so much work to do and spending time debating the approach can be draining.”

ELCA’s Hanson, who has been vocal at the conference on greater church commitment and involvement in the HIV/AIDS battle, pledged to bring more people to the next AIDS Conference in 2008 in Mexico.

According to the Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance, ELCA sponsored 12 young people this year to come to IAC in an effort to encourage religious leaders to work together with the youth on HIV/AIDS issues. Hanson promises to bring more to the next conference in Mexico.





Michelle Vu
Christian Today U.S. Correspondent