Arab Religious Leaders Sign Cairo Declaration on HIV/AIDS

More than 80 Arab religious leaders have agreed unanimously to respond to HIV/AIDS by signing the Cairo Declaration, during the Regional Religious Leaders Colloquium held in Cairo from December 11-13, 2004.

This colloquium was part of a series of regional religious leaders activities being implemented by Family Health International's (FHI) Implementing AIDS Prevention and Care (IMPACT) Project, with support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), in close collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and UNAIDS, under the auspices of the General Secretariat of the League of Arab States.

The signed Cairo Declaration states that: "We, the Muslim and Christian leaders, working in the field of HIV/AIDS in the Arab World … face the imminent danger of the HIV/AIDS epidemic and have a great responsibility and duty that demands urgent action." The declaration was a product of heated and constructive discussions that ended with the unanimous agreement of the religious leaders.

(Download English, Arabic, or French versions of the Declaration in PDF)

To prevent the transmission of HIV/AIDS, the religious leaders acknowledged "the medical call for the use of different prevention means to reduce the harm to oneself and others." The religious leaders also emphasized the importance of reaching out to vulnerable and high-risk groups and "ask(ed) that treatment and rehabilitation programs be developed." The religious leaders also went on to emphasize the need "to abolish all forms of discrimination…and stigmatization of people living with HIV/AIDS."

The ground-breaking event was attended by high-level religious leaders from around the Arab world, including Sheikh Al-Azhar Mohamed Sayed Tantawi, Sheikh Dr. Yusuf Al-Qaradawi, Mufti Ali Goma'a of Egypt and Bishop Yoanes on behalf of Pope Shenouda III. These religious leaders are essential actors in a successful response to HIV/AIDS as they have legitimacy and a durable presence in local communities. They help shape social values and norms, which is critical to ending stigma and discrimination related to HIV/AIDS. They are also well positioned to influence public attitudes and national policies related to HIV/AIDS.