UN Theme Group on HIV/AIDS of SerbiaUNICEF-UNDP-WHO-UNHCR-UNFPA-IOM-

UNODC

UNFPA supports countries implement the Programme of Action (PoA) resulting from the International Conference on Population & Development (ICPD) in 1994 via national and regional programmes to:

Reduce poverty, Improve reproductive health and rights, and Achieve gender equality.

Religious leaders and faith-based organizations (FBOs) are influential cultural gatekeepers and agents of change in society.

Around 70% of people identify with a religious or spiritual community. Worldwide, the Catholic Church supports HIV-related treatment,

care and support, particularly home and community-based care Pope Benedict XVI supports the UNAIDS Global Plan to eliminate

new HIV infections among children and keep their mothers alive

2008: UNFPA hosted a Global Forum of FBOs, Istanbul

2009: Eastern Europe & Central Asia (EECA) Regional Forum, Minsk

2011: EECA Meeting with FBOs, Istanbul The purpose of these meetings:

To share information and experience on ICPD PoA thematic areas;To discuss strategies for active engagement of FBOs in realizing the ICPD PoA and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

In 2009, UNFPA and the UN Theme Group on HIV and AIDS in Serbia started cooperation with FBOs and traditional religious communities in order to:

Raise awareness on youth health issues; Involve FBOs in HIV programmes at local and national level (planning,

implementation and monitoring)

October–December 2009 meetings with all traditional religious communities and FBO’s held in Belgrade and Novi Pazar

All expressed willingness to work with UN in the field of youth health

Relevant ministries contacted (MoH, MoF)

Mid December 2009- a call for proposals

One project proposal received

All FBO’s and religious leaders keen to cooperate with UN agencies

Acknowledged need to work with Young men and women to promote healthy lifestyles

‘Interfaith cooperation’ was acknowledged and supported

MoH, MoI and MoF partners were also engaged

Only CARITAS and Philanthropy have previous experience in working on project development and implementation

Lack of staff to be devoted to the project implementation and monitoring

MoUs signed between: MoI and Serbian Orthodox Church (SOC) for implementation of the

National Drug Strategy 2009-2013, and MoH and SOC

FBO ‘Zemlja zivih’ will organize a regional FBO Conference in 2013 on:

Youth health and prevention of drug use, Reintegration of current IDUs

Series of roundtables with FBO’s and traditional faiths will be organized during 2012 (focused on youth and healthy lifestyles)

× We, in the region, can learn from each other similar religious and cultural environment can contribute joint prevention and treatment efforts

× UN can provide technical support, but initiative should come from FBO and other community/civil society groups

Investment (capacity building) in FBO and religious communities to enable them to implement different programmes

Involve relevant ministries from the outset to gain government support and buy-in

Strengthened cooperation between NGOs and FBO’s Strengthen interfaith dialogue to build consensus and joint

commitment

Strengthen linkages between FBO’s and religious communities in the region

Need clear MoUs with stated goals and joint development of resources/ messages, to ensure FBOs support rights based and best practice approaches to HIV prevention (ie not just abstinence and be faithful messages).

In case you would like to join us, Please contact:

Ms. Marija Rakovic-UNFPA, NPO rakovic@unfpa.org Dr. Miljana Grbic - HIV Advisor lana.grbic@undp.org