Role of Religious Leaders in Reducing Stigma and Discrimination Related to HIV/AIDS

This article, found in the March 2004 issue of Religions for Peace, describes a workshop session that was held at the XIIIth

International Conference on AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections in Africa (ICASA). The newsletter describes the session as

offering "a unique opportunity for religious leaders, theologians, and PLWAs to deliberate on their response to HIV/AIDS and to

offer suggestions for deeper religious engagement in reducing stigma and discrimination."

The article suggests that religious leaders strive to help communities with social values. As a result they play a "critical role" in working with stigma

and discrimination. A number of themes shaped the event:

• Reality of stigma and discrimination in religious communities.
• Obstacles and/or barriers to overcoming the problem.
• Efforts currently underway to develop theological tools for responding
  to HIV/AIDS and reducing stigma.
• Practical experiences and lessons learned of how religious leaders are confronting stigma.

According to the newsletter, "the stigma associated with HIV/AIDS has been like that of no other disease. It surrounds
Persons Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWAs) and their families with fear and rejection; it limits the effectiveness of HIV programming;

and it perpetuates misconceptions about the disease. Additionally, "Within religious institutions themselves, there
is a climate where clergy refuse to be tested for HIV due to the fear of being found positive." One illustration in the article

provides the experience of Rev. Heath who is HIV positive. "He found that while his own parish has been supportive, it is unlikely
that he could find another parish in which he could serve. As he stated, “The Bishop has allowed me to live and work openly with

HIV, but he can not be able to find another parish that will accept me.”

The panel of religious leaders made the following recommendations to address stigma and discrimination.

1. Encourage different religions to work together and share information and expertise on HIV/AIDS;
2. Address HIV/AIDS as a disease like any other; don’t create unnecessary fear in people or feed the attitudes that
   stigmatise people;
3. Develop policy statements for working with people living with HIV/AIDS, which will provide an opportunity for inclusiveness

   within policy making and programming.

4. Document the religious responses to HIV/AIDS so that experiences and knowledge can be shared;
5. Develop the capacities of religious leaders through training programmes and experience sharing on HIV/AIDS;
6. Revisit and make use of the sacred texts and other theological language that can provide more support for people living
   with HIV/AIDS. Simple and compassionate language is very essential, as is the careful use of all language to provide
   positive reinforcement; and
7. Address sexuality in theological language.