November 26, 2004

GENEVA - At least 19 faith-based organizations including the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) are among the 160 initial signers of a new Code of Good Practice for NGOs Responding to HIV/AIDS.

The Code of Good Practice was developed through a steering committee of organizations to ensure accountability and quality programming in response to the expanding involvement of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in the prevention and treatment of HIV and AIDS.

"The values underlying the Code, such as fighting discrimination and stigma, and ensuring access to care, correspond with those expressed in the LWF HIV/AIDS Action Plan and Campaign," says LWF General Secretary, Rev. Dr Ishmael Noko in a press release issued jointly by the organizations today. "It is our hope that this Code of Good Practice will become a benchmark document for quality programming in the various spheres of life that determine our courageous and intensified responses to the challenges of the AIDS pandemic," he adds.

"Faith communities all across the globe are living with HIV and AIDS, and are also on the front line of responding with care, support, and education for prevention," says Linda Hartke, coordinator of the Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance (EAA), the Geneva-based international network of churches and Christian organizations cooperating in advocacy on global trade and HIV and AIDS. Hartke stresses the need to "accept the challenge to carry out this work in ways that promote good practices * effective and collaborative services and advocacy * in the context of the global response."

Other faith-based organizations that have signed the code include: Action by Churches Together (ACT) International, Bread for the World, Christian Aid, Church of Sweden, Conference of European Churches, DanChurchAid, Diakonie Emergency Aid, Difaem - German Institute for Medical Mission, Ecumenical Coalition on Tourism, Hope for Eastern Europe, Lutheran World Relief, Norwegian Church Aid, World Alliance of Reformed Churches, World Alliance of YMCAs, World Council of Churches, World Student Christian Federation and the World YWCA.

By signing on to the Code, NGOs publicly signal their endorsement of its principles and their commitment to implement the programming principles in the Code relevant to their own work. Its purpose is to:

. build wide commitment to principles and practices that underscore successful NGO responses to HIV and AIDS;

. assist NGOs to improve the quality and cohesiveness of their work and their accountability to partners and beneficiary communities;

. foster greater collaboration among the variety of NGOs now actively engaged in responding to the HIV and AIDS pandemic, and

. renew the 'voice' of NGOs responding to HIV and AIDS by committing to a shared vision of good practice in our programming and advocacy.

Participants in the EAA have been active in giving input to the drafters of the Code to include faith-based perspectives and experience.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies host the Code of Good Practice project. The first deadline for signing was 29 October 2004, although organizations can now sign on at any time. The full list of initial supporters of the Code will be made public on 1 December 2004.

Lutheran World Information