Christian women from around the world are currently gathered in Nairobi, Kenya, for the YWCA's International Women's Summit to address the fundamental role of women in combating HIV and Aids.

The conference, which started last Wednesday under the motto "Hear, learn, lead", is being held in partnership with the International Community of Women Living with HIV and Aids.

A call to action has been issued by conference delegates highlighting the need to develop the leadership of women and girls to respond to HIV and Aids, and overcome stigma and discrimination. It also calls for the participation of women and girls infected and affected by HIV and Aids to be strengthened in the development of Aids strategies, programming and decision-making bodies.

"We commit to create and sustain change for women and girls, particularly those infected and affected by HIV and AIDS. We will achieve change individually through our thoughts, words and actions, and collectively with our families, friends, colleagues, faith groups and communities as part of the global women's movement," said the document.

More than 1500 Christian men and women, including many international experts in HIV and Aids, have gathered for the summit. UNAIDS' Executive Director Peter Piot is taking part alongside church leaders and representatives from a large number of grassroots organisations.

Norwegian Church Aid's special advisor for social and political rights, Anne-Marie Helland, is also at the summit.

"This conference places women's leadership in focus. This is extremely important as it is always women who are hardest hit by the epidemic," she said.

"Women are infected more easily than men, and they are the ones that carry the burden of caring for the sick. This is why it's so important that women are involved in the process to decide the direction in which we shall continue in the fight against HIV and Aids," says Helland.

She added: "The international commmunity has been saying for years how important women are, and yet a large number of women's organisations that work with both the infected and the affected are struggling to gain funding for their projects."