Christian Conference of Asia

HIV and AIDS has been a special focus of the Christian Conference of Asia’s programme priorities. Several skill building and advocacy programmes have been initiated by CCA to address the concerns, as well as efforts to build an HIV competent church and community in Asia.

In order to effectively respond to HIV and AIDS with the member Churches and Councils, CCA is continuing a journey on building capacity of its members to become inclusive and relevant for People Living with HIV and AIDS through Action Together in Combating HIV and AIDS in Asia (ATCHAA) programme.

Asia and the Pacific is the region with the second highest number of people living with HIV in the world– an estimated 5.1 million in 2015. (UNAIDS 2016 The Prevention Gap Report).

In order to contribute to the initiatives of global, national and local bodies to combat the alarming  trend of increase of number of HIV and AIDS affected people, CCA will join together with Governments and UN agencies such as UNAIDS. CAA is engaged in working with and through its member constituencies in Asia at a national and local levels.

Objectives

• To Build the Capacity of CCA members by training Facilitators at regional, sub-regional and local levels.
• To scale up the Advocacy initiatives among its member constituencies targeting member
  Churches, Governments and UN agencies.
• To strengthen existing Faith-based Networks and initiate new networks with of faith-based groups in Asia in order to address the consequences of HIV and AIDS.
• To play a role in Effective, Efficient, Responsible and Sustainable way of addressing the problem.

Expected Outcomes

• CCA programs make significant contributions towards the global HIV and AIDS goals of ‘getting to zero’: zero new infection, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths within Asia.

• CCA member churches and councils more actively working in solidarity with interfaith partnerships in advocacy for addressing care, support and treatment including Anti-retroviral Therapy

• CCA member churches and communities will be more competent in responding to HIV and AIDS and related issues, including human sexuality, Sexual Orientation Gender Identity (SOGI), reproductive health and human rights, based on faith values and inclusive principles.

Strategies

• Capacity Building of Facilitators within CCA  Network.
• Self-Assessment of Churches Inclusiveness by using Appreciative Inquiry Methods.
• Exchange of learning and sharing of  resources within CCA and Inter-faith Network.
• Addressing factors governing HIV vulnerabilities including Human Sexuality and Gender.
• Documentation of good practices and building resources for models of intervention within the network.
• Motivating Youth as change agents.
• Specific Advocacy related to prevention, care, support and treatment to global and concerned organization, development agencies and government regionally and locally.
• Dissemination of learning at national and international forums based on first hand research.
• Asian Interfaith Network on AIDS (AINA):
  Inter-faith network will be strengthened at each country for exchange of learning, expertise and linkages or care and support within faith-based communities and organizations in Asia.
• Provides and facilitates Interfaith platforms to address HIV and AIDS issues.