Bangalore:
In a significant breakthrough in the fight against the growing threat
of HIV/AIDS, top Hindu leaders vowed to incorporate HIV information
into their discourses, rituals, festivals, religious education and training
of future faith leaders.
They pledged
to mobilize priests and faith leadership at all levels and fight stigma
associated with AIDS.
The emphasis
of their resolution is two-pronged: preventing people, especially youth,
from falling prey through active counselling, and spreading awareness
on preventive measures and promoting a stigma-free attitude.
POSITIVE PLAN: Hindu religious leaders at the caucus on HIV organized by the
Art of Living in Bangalore on. Monday |
|
|
This decision
was the outcome of a two-day conference called Faith in Action, a Hindu
religious leaders caucus on HIV/AIDS held at the Art of Living International’s
headquarters in Bangalore. The conference was held by the Art of Living
in association with UNAIDS and the Asian interfaith Network on AIDS
(AINA) on Sunday and Monday.
Stigma
around the disease can only be overcome if religious leaders openly
speak about it, said Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, founder, Art of Living,adding
this task cannot be accomplished solely by government and NGOs. He urged
people of all sects of Hinduism and from all parts of India to come
together to fight the unprecedented human catastrophe caused by AIDS.
Oscar
Fernandes, chairman, Parliamentary Forum on HIV/AIDS, elaborated on
the significant role of saints: “There are many more religious leaders
than the 3 million panchayat leaders in India. If all saints join, the
campaign against HIV/AIDS will have a far greater reach.” He also
urged religious leaders to help other countries facing the problem,
such as those in Africa.
This idea
was echoed by Jim Cairns, director-programs, World Conference of
Religions for Peace. “Your leadership in this issue is essential not
only in India, but also in addressing the global problem,” he
told the saints.
The saints
plan to include secular spiritual education in schools to inculcate
moral values among children and the youth. This will curb promiscuous
behaviour. Sri Sri also asked media to refrain from making provocative
programs for teenagers which encourage premarital sex, multiple partnerships
and teenage relationships.
J V R
Prasada Rao, director, UNAIDS, regional support; team for Asia and the
Pacific, Bangkok, said one-fifth of organizations working for AIDS prevention
are faith-based. Through their work, AlDS-related taboos are broken
among members of congregations, according to Rev James Mattarazzo, Director,
INERELA + (International Network of Religious Leaders Living with or
Personally affected by HIV and AIDS).
toiblr.reporter@timesgroup.com
|