Inter-Faith Round Table for Prevention and Control of HIV & AIDS in Bangalore

[Guest guest]

Dear FORUM,

I had the Opportunity of attending Inter-Faith Round Table for Prevention and

Control of HIV/AIDS at Bangalore from June 18-19, 2005

The Round table was a big success. Please find enclosed here with the Bangalore

consensus for the information of the Group.

INTER-FAITH ROUND TABLE FOR PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF HIV and AIDS

BANGALORE, JUNE, 18-19, 2005

We the faith leaders, who met as the Inter-Faith Round Table on Prevention and

Control of HIV and AIDS at Bangalore on June 18-19, 2005, do here by reaffirm

and endorse the “Delhi Declaration “ of Dec 1-2, 2004, adopted during the First

International Inter-Faith Conference on HIV/AIDS held in Delhi.

We recognize the need for all faiths to rise to the aid to scientific delivery

by supporting the development of scientific tools and advanced medical

technology in order to mitigate the human pain and sufferings caused by HIV and

AIDS.

We also commit our special expertise, experiences, resources and available

healthcare infrastructures for providing holistic healing, compassionate care,

support and treatment to people infected and affected by HIV and AIDS.

We reaffirm that religions, faiths, spiritual traditions, sacred texts and

scriptures exert powerful, positive, both direct and indirect influences, as

well as moral authority on the life of individuals, communities, and societies,

at local, regional and national levels.

We reiterate the critical need for overcoming the prevailing silence, stigma,

denial and fear attached to the epidemic.

While endorsing the excellent work done by the south Asia Inter-Religious

Council on HIV and AIDS (SAIRC) – a body supported by the UNICEF and WCRP, this

‘Bangalore Consensus’ also appreciates the excellent leadership being provided

by National AIDS Control Organization (NACO) India, USAID, UNICEF, World Bank,

UNAIDS, DFID, SHRC, IAVI, Global Fund, and other International Organization and

NGOs in Prevention and Control of HIV and AIDS.

We once again resolve that the foundational principles enunciated in the Delhi

Declaration need to be translated into a framework of action of supporting

national AIDS control programmes, and for follow-up, making an immediate impact

on the efforts already made for the prevention and control of HIV and AIDS, as

well as for providing care, support and treatment to its victims.

We appeal to all religions and faith based organizations, spiritual movements

and spiritual leaders at all levels to strive for aligning their actions and

activities in accordance with this Consensus, and to contribute to strengthening

the local, regional and national responses.

Those interested in knowing more details about Inter-Faith activities may

contact

T.P.Radhakrishnan,

E-mail: tpr54@..., Tpr_1000@...

Or

Dr. K. Balachandra Kurup, Ph.D.

E-mail: balan_kurup@...