The first-ever global Summit of High Level Religious Leaders was held in The Netherlands from 22-23 March 2010 to generate greater leadership from religious leaders of many of the world’s faiths in the global AIDS response. The Summit will explore opportunities for religious leaders to speak out and take action on HIV and eliminate stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV. Religious leaders will also have an opportunity to exchange views with people living with HIV and experts from other sectors involved in the AIDS response. Over 60 participants from around the world are expected to attend.
Participants represent Baha’í, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim and Sikh faiths, as well as high level representation from UNAIDS and UNFPA, the Dutch and Swedish AIDS Ambassadors, representatives of other organizations active in the response to HIV and people living with HIV.
Summit Outcomes:
Summit Signatures to the Personal Commitment (EN)
Witness Signatures to the Personal Commitment (EN)
Speeches during the Summit:
Welcome Dinner, 21 March
Marijke Winrocks, HIV/AIDS Ambassador, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, The Netherlands (EN)
The Right Rev. Dr. Gunnar Stålsett (EN)
Video Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuVY7QuTHvo
Monday Morning, 22 March
“Having Faith: The Global Challenge of HIV and AIDS” (EN)
Mr. Michel Sidibé, Executive Director, UNAIDS
Video Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8p0Y09CCYWk
Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7f3yRTjL7Dg
Reducing SSDDIM & Multiplying SAVE (video of address to be posted soon)Rev. Canon Gideon Byamugisha, Goodwill Ambassador on HIV and AIDS, ChristianAid - Background to Remarks (EN)
Video Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ai6ed822AOk
“AIDS and Religion: Prevention and the Problem of the Text”
Honorable Michael Kirby, former Justice, High Court of Australia (EN)
Video Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Orgf-_gztG0
Table Group Discussions
Swami Agnivesh (EN)
Dr. Hesameddin Ashena
Ven. Oeun Sam Art (For His Holiness Tep Vong) (EN)
Rev. Dr. Calvin O. Butts, III (EN)
The Most Rev. John Onaiyekan (EN)
Rev. Dra. Ofelia Ortega
Rabbi David Rosen
Mohammad Sammak (EN)
Bhai Sahib Mohinder Singh
Sister True Virtue (EN)
Baha’í – approach to illness and HIV (EN)
Address by His Holiness Abune Paulos, Patriarch, Ethiopian Orthodox Church (EN)
Video Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ffs6JmH2lWc
Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anULMDlOmTQ
Monday Afternoon, 22 March – the Actual Practice of our Faith Communities
Bishop James Okombo, Free Christian Assemblies Church (EN)
Video Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5F6uYjHUX18
Mat Southwell, International Network of People Who Use Drugs
Video Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdoyOwWCXuw
Bishop Mark Hanson, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Dr. Tarmizi Taher, Chairperson, Indonesian Mosque Assembly
Video Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KA4yvm_17g
The Most Rev. Dr. Thabo Makgoba, Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town (EN)
Tuesday Morning, 23 March - Elements of Best Practice
The Most Rev. John Onaiyekan, Archbishop of Abuja, Nigeria (EN)
Video Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5D_jhhuL-Pg
Prof. Farid Esak, University of Johannesburg
Video Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLa89XpbuSg
Most Ven. Dr. Dambajav, Head Khamba Lama, Dashichoiling Monastery
Rev. Rachel Carnegie, Office of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Religious Communities Exercising Leadership and Responsibility
Address by HH Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Art of Living Foundation (EN)
Video Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSasUeVl5WQ
Address by Sheikh Mohamad Gemea, Office of the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar (EN)
Video Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jrfqOjZFPw
Panel Remarks:
Dr. Kezevino Aram, Director, Shanti Ashram
Video Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8d6t4SeSWiA
Dr. Hany El Banna, President, Humanitarian Forum
Video Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QecO9v9vcG8
Bishop Gerald Seale, General Secretary and CEO, Evangelical Association of the Caribbean
“Together, We Are Stronger” - Address by Ms. Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, Executive Director, UNFPA (EN)
Video Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLqaSaBEvn8
Remarks by Dr. Christoph Benn, Director of External Relations, The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria
Background Documents:
Participant List (EN)
Summit Programme (EN)
Summit Overview (EN)
“Positive Health, Dignity, and Prevention” Briefing Paper for the High Level Religious Leaders Summit by GNP+ (EN)
Approach to illness and HIV by some of the major religious traditions (EN)
Selection of religious statements on HIV and AIDS (EN)
Key HIV Advocacy Events 2010-2012 (EN)
Spirit of Dialogue (EN)
Epidemic Fact Sheet UNAIDS (EN)
UNAIDS Religion and HIV (EN)
Compilation of Statements, Policies and Reports
The following are a collection of statements, policies and reports relatedÿto HIV from different religious traditions and gatherings in the past 20ÿyears. Please note that the documents are very large and should not beÿprinted, but particular statements can be easily accessed through theÿhyperlinks in the Table of Contents.
If a key statement is missing, please send it to sspeicher@e-alliance.ch
Baha'i and Buddhist (1.1 mb) (EN)
Christian (8.3 mb) (EN)
Hindu, Interfaith and Jewish (3.4 mb) (EN)
Muslim (6.5 mb) (EN)
Other (885 kb) (EN)
