Female Religious Leaders Join Arab HIV Forum in Cairo

NEW VOICES ON AIDS:

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More than 250 religious leaders representing Muslim and Christian faiths from 20 Arab countries--including the Sheikh of Al-Azhar, the Coptic Pope, and, for the first time, more than 60 Arab women religious leaders--will come together at the Second Regional Religious Leaders Forum in Response to HIV/AIDS in the Arab States in Cairo, November 6-9^th, 2006. Leaders nominated for participation have been responding to AIDS at community, national and regional levels since the historic Cairo Colloquium for Religious Leaders, December 2004.

The Arab States region has one of the fastest growing HIV infection rates in the world with heightened risk factors due to conflict, gender disparity and poverty in the region. Every ten minutes someone is infected with HIV in the Arab States. Over 90% of HIV positive people in the region do not have means to know their HIV status let alone access to support and treatment. Religious Leaders have responded to AIDS in the region with unprecedented urgency and unity.

This second Forum will be sponsored by UNDP’S HIV/AIDS Regional Program in the Arab States (HARPAS) and held under the auspices of the League of Arab States. It will take place in Cairo, Egypt from November 6-9, 2006.

The Forum is open to the media only for the following:

NOVEMBER 6, 2006

What: Academic Opening Ceremony

Where: Pyramisa Hotel, Dokki- Versailles Ballroom- First Floor

Time: 9:00-11:00am Opening Statements, 11:30am-12:30pm coffee break and time for interviews

NOVEMBER 7, 2006

*What: Opening Ceremony – Regional Network of Arab Faith Based Organizations and leaders responding to AIDS

* Where: League of Arab States, Downtown Cairo (next to Nile Hilton)

* Time: 10am-12:30pm, 11:30-12:30 time for one-on-one interviews.

Please bring your Official Photo ID, Press Card and RSVP using details below to ensure you are on our media listing.

Opening statements to include:

§ H.E. Mr. Amre Moussa, Secretary General of the League of Arab States

§ H.E. Dr. Mohamed Sayed Tantawy, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Mosque

§ His Holiness Pope Shenouda III, Pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church

§ H.E. Dr. Mahmoud Hamdy Zakzouk, Minister of Awkaf, Arab Republic of Egypt

§ H.E. Mr. Bubaker El-Akhzouri, Minister of Religious Affairs, Tunisia

§ H.E. Dr. Hatem El-Gabaly, Minister of Health, Arab Republic of Egypt

§ H.E. Ambassador Nancy Bakir, Assistant Secretary General of the League of Arab States

§ Ms. Amat Al-Aleem Al-Soswah, Assistant Secretary General of UN, Director of the Regional Bureau for Arab States

§ Mr. Elhadj Amadou Sy, Director, UNDP, Bureau for Development Policy, HIV/AIDS Group

The four-day Forum will also conclude with launching the CHAHAMA Network followed by a media briefing.

NOVEMBER 9, 2006

* What: CHAHAMA Network Launch and Press Conference

* Where: Pyramisa Hotel, Dokki, Cairo- Versailles Ballroom, First Floor

* Times: 2:30pm-3:30pm Closing Statements followed by Press Conference, 3:30-4:30pm

For further information, please contact:

Mr. Noeman AlSayyad

Head of Information, Communication & Reporting Unit
UNDP Egypt, Country Office - Cairo
Phone/office: +202-578-4847 ext. 109
Fax: +202-578-4847
E-mail: [email protected]

Dr. Khadija T. Moalla
UNDP/HARPAS Regional Coordinator
UNDP/HARPAS, Cairo
Phone/mobile: +2-(0)10-140-2016
Fax : +202-578-4847
E-mail: [email protected]

Ms. Amy Kay
UNDP/HARPAS Regional Programme Officer
UNDP/HARPAS, Cairo
Phone/mobile: +2-(0)12-541-4755
Phone/office : +202-578-4840 ext. 290
Fax: +202-578-4847
E-mail: [email protected]

Ms. Sausan Ghosheh
UNDP Arab States Communication Officer
UNDP Headquarters, New York
Phone/office: +212-906-5390
E-mail: [email protected]