The World YWCA attends EAA Consultation in Thailand

2010 was the target year for fulfilment of key governmental commitments on HIV and AIDS, specifically with regards to universal access to prevention, treatment, care and support. The consultation was an opportunity for EAA members and partners to meet together face-to-face to share and evaluate experiences and to broaden and deepen their joint work, both in plans for action and in theological reflection and understanding.

The EAA’s “Live the Promise” Campaign Framework (2009-2012) focuses on four goals. The first is to address the root causes of vulnerability to HIV and connecting it to a current global civil society focus on human rights and HIV. The other areas of focus of the campaign are to achieve Universal Access to prevention, treatment, care and support and to eliminate stigma and discrimination. The fourth goal is to ensure accountability and resources in order to strengthen and sustain the response for the long-term.

The specific aims of the consultation included: to update and share information, stories and experiences among EAA members already working on HIV and AIDS and to develop new ways of supporting each other; to update members and partners on the “Live the Promise” campaign; to share experiences of faith as a motivation for advocacy on HIV and identify areas for further theological reflection; to provide opportunities for learning about the processes and mechanisms that are important for the campaign, for example the UNGASS review, HIV related human rights mechanisms, and the Global Fund, to name but a few; to identify opportunities for joint action based on the framework, with a focus on developing specific plans for individual and joint campaigning at national, regional and international levels; to develop specific plans for the 2011 UN General Assembly (UNGASS) Review and World AIDS Day 2011; and to strategise and plan for actions, events and directions for the future.

Throughout the 3 days, discussions were focused on the global response to HIV and AIDS. The panel of speakers led interesting discussions on the future steps that EAA needs to take, shared their own experiences and presented four case studies, all demonstrating that the main challenges remain in harnessing the potential of faith-based communities in building inner and outer competencies on HIV, a rights based approach to programming, theology and HIV and securing a safe space for dialogue. Group discussion were organised to identify priorities for joint action within the “Live the Promise” Campaign Framework, and simultaneous group sessions on the three areas of concern for EAA were organised. These areas are: strengthening religious leadership in the response to HIV; deepening the theological reflection on human rights and HIV; and improving faith-based advocacy on access to medicine.

Following these discussions key specific actions were identified, which include the need to build HIV Competent Churches that involve People Living with HIV and AIDS (PLHA); decentralise the EAA and expand faith-based communities; participate in the UNGASS in June 2011 and the International AIDS Conference in Washington D.C; re-energise access to treatment through grassroots mobilisation; boost internal and external advocacy and encourage AIDS issues in churches; and maximise external media for communication and lobbying.

The World YWCA representatives, Leila Passah and Lisa Lamis, brought the voices and concerns of young women to the discussion table. “During a group discussion I pointed out that EAA members’ theologies need to be grounded in justice, not just in mercy and charity, such as stigmatisation and discrimination. They are manifestations of unjust social structures and relationships,” said Lamis.

Leila Passah and Lisa Lamis also prepared and facilitated a closing worship, using candles to portray the EAA members’ commitment. The scripture in Isaiah 35.3, “Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees,” served as an inspirational verse and a blessing for the participants as they commit to “Live the Promise.”