A major event on HIV/AIDS featuring one of the world’s most impassioned speakers on the subject is planned for delegates attending the Anglican Church of Canada’s 37th General Synod at Brock University in St. Catharines, Ont., from May 28 – June 4, 2004.
The half-day workshop scheduled for Wednesday June 2, is being organised by the Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund (PWRDF) in close corporation with General Synod’s Partnerships department.
PWRDF is the official relief and development agency of the Anglican Church of Canada. It provides disaster relief funds and supports economic development programs abroad and within indigenous communities in Canada.
The main feature of the half-day workshop will be a presentation by United Nations special envoy Stephen Lewis, who will talk about his experiences as special envoy on HIV/AIDS in Africa.
Mr. Lewis, a former leader of the New Democratic Party in Ontario, was appointed a special envoy by the Secretary-General of the United Nations in June 2001. From 1984-1998, he served as Canadian Ambassador to the United Nations. In this capacity, he chaired the committee that drafted the Five-Year UN Program on African Economic Recovery.
“The challenge for us in the church today is to acknowledge the grave situation of AIDS and take an active role in addressing the issue,” said Andrew Ignatieff, executive director of PWRDF, noting that, “the church is in a unique position to spread a message of compassion, care and tolerance.”
HIV/AIDS affects millions of people worldwide, leaving families devastated and children orphaned. Africa is especially hard hit, said Mr. Ignatieff. Much of PWRDF work on HIV/AIDS is focused in eastern and southern Africa, namely, Uganda, South Africa and Tanzania.
The workshop will help delegates reflect on HIV/AIDS as not just a disease of developing nations, but that “Canadians also suffer,” said Zaida Bastos, PWRDF development co-ordinator for eastern and southern Africa. Canadians need to realise that HIV/AIDS is “not just a health issue but also a social, economic and political issue in many parts of the world.
“In Canada our aim is to engage with aboriginal communities, who are the most affected, through education and pastoral care,” said Ms. Bastos.
To help parishes and diocese participation in the fight against AIDS, PWRDF launched a new initiative on Dec.1, 2003 called, Partnership for Life- for a Generation Without AIDS. The purpose of campaign is to increase the capacity to support PWRDF partners in their fight against AIDS. It aims to raise $1 million from parishes, foundations and government sources.
A package that provides basic information needed to engage parishes, families, friends and communities in the struggle against HIV/AIDS has been sent to parishes and diocese across the country to help them join in the Partnership for Life campaign.
A video based on HIV/AIDS projects run by PWRDF partners in Uganda is currently being edited. The video, produced by Anglican Video staff on behalf of PWRDF will be shown during the HIV/AIDS workshop at General Synod 2004.
Small group discussions will also be featured, where delegates will discuss motions on HIV/AIDS to be presented during Synod 2004.
Post cards addressed to Canada’s Prime Minister will be distributed during the workshop where delegates will be asked to sign on them. “The post card campaign is meant to lobby the government on its initiative to amend Canada’s patent laws to allow the export of generic medicines to low-income countries,” said Ms. Bastos.
Mr. Ignatieff hopes that the workshop will help delegates “to express compassion and undertake a process of reflection on what our responsibilities as a church are?”
Information about the 37th General Synod can be found at: gs2004.anglican.ca
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