Interfaith Seminar at Lambeth Palace

The International HIV Fund attended an inter-faith seminar on development convened by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Rowan Williams.

The event, held at Lambeth Palace on Tuesday 8^th May 2012, was an opportunity to explore the responses of faith traditions to questions underpinning global development today. Representatives from different faith traditions gave their thoughts on how disease, poverty and destitution could be solved through a spiritual approach, with presentations made by CAFOD, Islamic Relief, and the Amida Trust.

The International HIV Fund represented the Muslim approach to tackling HIV – through awareness, education and helping solve the wider societal issues such as poverty and stigma to help those living with HIV. International HIV Fund Operational Coordinator, Fatima-Zahra Khanum, strongly believes that faith still has much more to offer to international development.

‘’The key role that faith can play in the response to international development issues cannot be underestimated. The values found in faith promote community togetherness and sharing. Values such as these are critical to addressing issues affecting some of the world’s poorest countries and hard-to-reach areas. We believe through engaging with the Muslim community we can help reduce stigma and make an impact on the response to HIV and AIDS.’’

Dr Rowan Williams gave his thoughts on development, especially the importance of tackling HIV.

‘’The HIV/AIDS crisis is at the heart of other issues [such as poverty]. If we forget this issue we are throwing away the key to other issues’’.