Anglicans in Development - News

Women play an important role in the fight against HIV and AIDS, religious leaders have told an international women's meeting on the issue in Nairobi.

At the same time, the general secretary of the World Council of Churches, the Rev. Samuel Kobia, challenged faith leaders to be active in the struggle against the pandemic.

"It is not enough to preach from the pulpits of our religious communities. We have to be on our knees, praying for strength to face the truth, and then rise up and act positively," said Kobia, speaking on 5 July in the Kenyan capital, at the International Women's Summit on Women's Leadership on HIV and AIDS. The summit is being held in conjunction with the council of the World Young Women's Christian Association, which concludes on 11 July.

But some women speakers at the meeting expressed concern that the doctrines of some churches remained in conflict with strategies to fight HIV and AIDS.

"We have to, as women, continue challenging the church leadership to critically look at some of the teachings they have promoted for a very long time," said Phumzile Mabizela of the African Network of HIV-affected Religious Leaders Living With or Personally Affected by HIV and AIDS.

The general secretary of the All Africa Conference of Churches, the Rev. Mvume Dandala, told the meeting that churches should give greater support to the actions of women.

"As the church in Africa, we must be at the forefront of highlighting the difference that women's leadership is making on HIV and AIDS. We must join in the efforts to mobilise women globally to respond to HIV and AIDS along related issues," Dandala said.

In his speech, Kobia admitted he was moved by the work of women, particularly grandmothers, who fill the gap when their own children die of AIDS and leave orphaned grandchildren who need looking after.

"Despite the paucity of resources and their poverty, [grandmothers] step in and refuse to give up," said Kobia, a Methodist from Kenya.

In addition to the members of the World YWCA council itself, representatives of UN bodies, governments, church groups and non-governmental organizations are attending the summit.

Speaking at the opening of the meeting about the risk women run of being infected by HIV, Dr Margaret Chan, World Health Organization director-general, said, "We must also seize the opportunity for women to learn their infection status ... Being married is not a safe haven."

Article from Ecumenical News International