World Conference for Religions of Peace - March 2004 Newsletter

This article, found in the March 2004 issue of Religions for Peace, describes a workshop session that was held at the XIIIth

International Conference on AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections in Africa (ICASA). The newsletter describes the session as

offering "a unique opportunity for religious leaders, theologians, and PLWAs to deliberate on their response to HIV/AIDS and to

offer suggestions for deeper religious engagement in reducing stigma and discrimination."

The article suggests that religious leaders strive to help communities with social values. As a result they play a "critical role" in working with stigma

and discrimination. A number of themes shaped the event:

According to the newsletter, "the stigma associated with HIV/AIDS has been like that of no other disease. It surrounds
Persons Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWAs) and their families with fear and rejection; it limits the effectiveness of HIV programming;

and it perpetuates misconceptions about the disease. Additionally, "Within religious institutions themselves, there
is a climate where clergy refuse to be tested for HIV due to the fear of being found positive." One illustration in the article

provides the experience of Rev. Heath who is HIV positive. "He found that while his own parish has been supportive, it is unlikely
that he could find another parish in which he could serve. As he stated, “The Bishop has allowed me to live and work openly with

HIV, but he can not be able to find another parish that will accept me.”

The panel of religious leaders made the following recommendations to address stigma and discrimination.