At Bangkok conference, faith groups renew commitment to fighting AIDS

Published: 2004-07-19

BANGKOK, Thailand (CNS) -- The unchecked growth of HIV and AIDS adds "compelling urgency to the call for new commitment by people of faith" to help end the suffering caused by the disease, according to a statement adopted by religious leaders and groups participating in the XV International AIDS Conference in Bangkok. The interfaith "statement of commitment" from the religious community was approved July 15 and combined with similar statements from leaders of other sectors -- including scientists, women and sex workers -- on the final day of the July 11-16 gathering. The joint declaration committed each group to immediate and verifiable actions, and promised to report on their progress to the next international AIDS conference in 2006. "Bangkok has to be the end of promises made, promises broken," Graca Machel, a Mozambican activist for women and children, said while introducing the combined statement.

Copyright (c) 2004 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .