Churches and Organizations United Together in the Commitment to Stop AIDS
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina, December 1, 2006
The signatories state that they join their voices and efforts to the World AIDS Campaign, Taxi Heathrow Airport and to the cry of those affected by HIV and AIDS, ratifying the commitment to act together in this world crisis. The originator of the initiative is Lutheran Pastor Lisandro Orlov, of the HIV/AIDS Pastoral Ministry.
"We do not want those affected to become mere figures and numbers, yet we cannot deny that the statistics worry us and are a constant evaluation, telling us that we still have not done enough and that there is so much yet to be done to reach the goals set by the heads of state and government and state representatives, set out in the Declaration of Commitment in the Fight Against HIV and AIDS, approved on June 2, 2006 by the Special Session of the United Nations General Assembly.” Each point in the statement ends by invoking God and God’s help for the accomplishing of this commitment.
The statement acknowledges the reality of the stigmatizing and marginalization of those affected with the virus, as well as the lack of medication available to many, and underlines that part of the Gospel message is giving a central place within the concerns and communion of the community to those persons who the economic, cultural and even religious systems have made the most vulnerable. “We cannot hide our concern over the feminizing of the epidemic, which is a clear sign of the vulnerable situation that women, young girls and girls still children live in, in our context.”
Given the increasing number of young people and boys and children affected by the epidemic of HIV and AIDS in Latin America and the Caribbean, the statement says that it is clear that a purpose for life is lacking, along with a lack of employment possibilities and cultural insertion opportunities which most youth experience, evidenced by the epidemic, but that the causes go much deeper.
"This pastoral response considers preventive education, treatment and access to essential medicines, pastoral accompaniment and the defense of the rights and dignity of all persons, as being one whole and indivisible unity, as well as the care and attention given to them,” emphasizes the letter that is set out in 16 different points.
The complete text can be found at:
Home
Top