Regional interfaith conference on faith-based engagements to reverse the HIV epidemic in Asia concludes with renewed commitment

Programme Review and Programme Direction

Two key deliberative sessions during the 15th CCA General Assembly are the Programme Review and Programme Direction sessions.

The Programme Review and Programme Direction sessions will both be conducted in three groups relating to the CCA’s programme areas, namely, (i) General Secretariat (GS), (ii) Mission in Unity and Contextual Theology (MU) and Ecumenical Leadership Formation and Spirituality (EF); and (iii) Building Peace and Moving Beyond Conflicts (BP) and Prophetic Diakonia (PD).

Assembly participants will have the option to join one of three groups for both the Programme Review and Programme Direction sessions. For the sake of coherence, the assigned group will remain the same for both sessions.

General Secretariat

The General Secretariat oversees the coordination of programmatic, administrative, and financial activities of the organization. The GS comprises various departments such as church and ecumenical relations, relations with ecumenical partners, finance, administration, and communications, which provide crucial support and services for the implementation of programs and contribute to the overall functioning of the CCA.

Programmes: Relations with member churches and councils, ecumenical partners; advocacy at the United Nations; ecumenical responses to emerging issues in solidarity; income development and finance; and communications.

Mission in Unity and Contextual Theology (MU) and Ecumenical Leadership Formation and Spirituality (EF)

Under the MU programme area, the CCA accompanies Asian churches to strengthen their mission and witness in multi-religious contexts, revitalise and nurture church unity and the Asian ecumenical movement, and develop contextual theological foundations.

Programmes: Asian Movement for Christian Unity (AMCU); Congress of Asian Theologians (CATS); Asian women doing theology in the context of wider ecumenism; contextualisation of theology in Asia and ecumenical theological education.

The EF programme area focuses on nurturing and developing ecumenical leaders in Asia. The programme aims to enhance spiritual formation and theological understanding, enabling people to actively engage in ecumenical dialogue and collaboration.

Programmes: Ecumenical Enablers’ Training in Asia (EETA); Asian Ecumenical Institute (AEI); Youth and Women Leadership Development; Ecumenical Spirituality and Nurturing of Contextual Liturgical Traditions; Asia Sunday

Building Peace and Moving Beyond Conflicts (BP) and Prophetic Diakonia and Advocacy (PD)

The BP programme area is dedicated to promoting peace, justice, and reconciliation in Asia’s diverse contexts. Through training, advocacy, and dialogue, the programme addresses the root causes of conflicts, empowers communities, and fosters sustainable peacebuilding initiatives.

Programmes: Pastoral Solidarity Visits; Churches in Action for Moving Beyond Conflict and Resolution; Young Ambassadors of Peace in Asia (YAPA); Ecumenical Women’s Action Against Violence (EWAAV); Eco-Justice for Sustainable Peace in the Oikos.

The PD programme area focuses on promoting justice, human rights, and social transformation in Asia. Through advocacy, capacity-building, and raising awareness, the programme addresses systemic injustice, empowers marginalised communities, and advocates for prophetic actions and meaningful change.

Programmes: Human Rights advocacy; Migration, Statelessness, and Trafficking in Persons; Asian Ecumenical Disability Advocacy Network; Asian Advocacy Network on the Dignity and Rights of Children (AANDRoC); Ecumenical Solidarity Accompaniment and Diakonia in Asia (ESADA); Health and Healing; Good Governance; Action Together to Combat HIV and AIDS in Asia (ATCHAA).

No preference updated.

17 November 2024

 

Phnom Penh, Cambodia: The regional interfaith conference on ‘Reversing the HIV Epidemic in Asia: Faith-Based Engagements’, organised by the Christian Conference of Asia (CCA) and the World Council of Churches (WCC), concluded with participants reinforcing the collective commitment of faith-based organisations to stand against stigma and discrimination.

The participants reiterated their commitment to influence faith communities across Asia in fostering inclusive environments for strengthening measures of care, advocacy, and prevention strategies. 

In a closing message, Garcia Violeta Ross Quiroga, Coordinator of the HIV and AIDS programme of the WCC, introduced four manuals produced by the WCC to guide faith-based communities in Asia and Africa.

These manuals, focusing on topics such as HIV and mental health, migration, prevention and youth engagement, aim to inspire local action to produce global changes.

Miss Garcia emphasised the adaptability of these resources, which include technical briefings, pastoral perspectives, and practical examples.

During her presentation, Miss Garcia, a Bolivian anthropologist and an activist for global advocacy on the human rights of people living with HIV, drew attention to several pressing issues, including the impact of mental health and the vulnerabilities faced by migrants and refugees in the context of HIV and AIDS, describing it as “possibly one of the biggest pandemics in the world”. 

Her address also stressed the role of young people in leading HIV prevention efforts, advocating for their meaningful involvement in decision-making and the creation of safe spaces free from judgement.

The communiqué adopted at the conclusion of the conference urged faith communities to strengthen efforts to ensure equitable access to care, prevention, and treatment while renewing interfaith teachings to address contemporary challenges.
 
The communiqué highlighted the indispensable role of faith leaders and communities in fostering resilience, compassion, and solidarity in the fight against HIV. It emphasised that faith-based organisations continue to have a unique, relevant, and specific role to play in reversing the HIV epidemic in Asia. 

Echoing this sentiment, the participants reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the role of faith-based organisations in Asia to work alongside and support those living with and affected by HIV, providing unwavering care, support, and advocacy.

In his closing remarks, Dr Ronald Lalthanmawia, Coordinator of CCA’s Action Together in Combating HIV and AIDS in Asia (ATCHAA) Programme, expressed hope that the discussions held during the three-day interfaith conference and the commitments made by participants would catalyse lasting change, advancing the mission to reverse the HIV epidemic in Asia and beyond.

He emphasised that the fight against HIV and AIDS is an ongoing endeavour, one that extends far beyond the conclusion of the conference. He urged faith leaders to view their dispersal not as an ending but as a stepping stone towards greater collaboration and unity in the future.

The conference was attended by over 80 participants, including Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, and Muslim religious leaders, representatives of civil society organisations, medical professionals, health workers, social activists, and members of People Living with HIV and AIDS networks across Asia.

For more photos of Closing Session please click here (photo gallery)