Religious Leadership and HIV/AIDS Prevention and Care

UNICEF

This session explored the role of religion in prevention, care and solidarity with PLWHA. Three cases were presented: An Islamic perspective from Indonesia, Buddhist perspective from Thailand and Catholic Church response in PNG. A key issue that was highlighted in these presentations was the responsibility taken by religious groups to provide leadership in care and prevention programs in their communities. In all three cases, leadership involved setting directions for religious leaders at the national level through Declarations, statements and actions. For example, in 1998 an ASEAN Workshop of Islamic leaders declared that PLWHA should have full rights and receive proper care and treatment and access to preventive information. This declaration asserted a strong commitment of support and direction for Islamic leaders. Similarly, the Catholic Bishops in PNG developed a plan of action to ensure that each diocese had a responsibility to respond to HIV across PNG. Training of religious leaders has also been an important element in increasing the role of religious groups.

In Thailand, training program for Buddhist monks has been happening across the country and extending into neighbouring countries. In Indonesia, training of Ulamas (religious leaders) and organising bodies of Muslim communities has not only increased awareness about HIV/AIDS but also promoted the role of women, their empowerment and participation in a range of community issues. Care and support for people living with HIV/AIDS has also been a key feature of these religious organisations. Key to this work was a central role of these leaders within their communities and the responsibility that leaders had to care for community members. It was perhaps best illustrated by a Buddhist monk who described the activities of his temple in providing prevention and care services to the local community. This included an income generation project for PLWHAs, care of orphans, including providing scholarships for their education and care of older people who had lost family members. In PNG, the Catholic mission was working to reduce stigma and discrimination in a local Port Moresby suburb. The role of inter-faith groups was also raised especially in countries where there was more than one main religion. In Thailand, home visiting teams are comprised of mixed religious groups and there is a strong sense of working together. A key concern raised was the difficulties for many countries in engaging with their religious leaders. Pakistan was described as a country where there was little dialogue and much difficulty around talking about HIV/AIDS related issues openly.