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Statement from members of the faith Community attending ICAAP 10See also : The ICAAP 10 Korea 2011 Declaration HIV is a serious health and human rights threat in Asia/Pacific. While significant progress has been made towards addressing HIV related prevention, treatment, care and support, an enormous amount of work remains. It is critical that the voices of those who are especially vulnerable to HIV in this region need to be heard. This includes particularly Men who have sex with Men, sex workers, people who use drugs, migrant workers and the greater LGBTI community. Every AIDS conference, whether global or regional is a critical conference to hear the voices of people who are day by day living the reality of HIV. It must be a place where the voices of the community can reach the ears of the decision makers in a meaningful and impactful way. Voices for the voiceless. Dim lights Embed Embed this video on your site We commend delegates both from the Asia/Pacific region as well as those participating from Korea who have had the extraordinary courage to stand up for their rights and needs in this region. It is however both alarming and deeply regrettable that there has been substantial interference in this process. After an initial peaceful protest in the opening ceremony of ICAAP 10 further protests were repeated today, 27th August 2011. The reaction both of the security company for the BEXCO centre, site of ICAAP 10, and then the police, who jointly removed, apprehended and charged both members of civil society and the lawyer representing them is not only totally unwarranted, but in total contradiction to the necessary spirit of freedom of expression which must of necessity occupy the halls and meeting places of any ICAAP. Exacerbating the situation by violently removing people from a peaceful demonstration is totally abhorrent to us. While we rejoice that those detained have been released, we need to ensure that all involved will be protected from any future prosecution, and have their rights of free expression respected. As members of the faith community participating in ICAAP 10 we wish to add our voices to those coming from the wider community calling for meaningful change. We wish to further call upon members both of the BEXCO security as well as police to exercise restraint and tolerance before interfering in the natural and necessary process of self expression from people who are both passionate and committed to making meaningful changes to the response to HIV in this region. Stigma and discrimination in any form always exacerbates interventions to mitigate the impact of HIV. It needs to be challenged and eradicated before we will be able to see a world of Zero new infections, Zero Stigma and discrimination and Zero AIDS related deaths.
INERELA+ is proud to present...What’s faith got to do with it?Over the last number of years responses from Faith Based Organizations and institutions have been ever more recognised when responding to HIV. The unique role which INERELA+ plays as a network of religious leaders living with HIV, and CUAHA as a network of denominations addressing HIV at grass root level have inspired the writing of articles from across the faith sector examining and challenging ever deeper responses to HIV from people of faith.
Archbishop Emeritus, Desmond Tutu says :“This book is an inspiration to faith-based organisations who are living their faith in this world, and not just the next. Read it and your hopes will rise. God is responding to HIV and AIDS. I pray that all those who will read this book will be guided by the Holy Spirit to speak the truth in love and to pour balm on wounds - and that the stories in this book will bring hope and healing to a broken world.” Canon Gideon Byamugisha says:“Not only is this resource salvic, redemptional and liberational in facts, style and methodology; it is also multi-faith, multi-sectoral and multi-level -able to reach, speak to and benefit a variety of potential users at different levels and in different sectors with different dimensions of questions, challenges and insights. This book is essential because time is not on our side. We have to succeed in this life and leadership task of overcoming the AIDS epidemic before the virus triumphantly and devastatingly celebrates its 50th anniversary”. Who we are INERELA+ is an international network of religious leaders – lay and ordained, women and men – living with, or personally affected, by HIV. Its formation was announced in 2006 as a worldwide expansion of ANERELA+, the African founder network, and was formally launched in August 2008 at the International Aids Conference in Mexico City.
What we do
……………......... SAVE Prevention Model
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INERELA+ aims to run regional and national programs to 