|
National review of faith-based responses to HIV in Cambodia Download (pdf 4,789 KB)
A joint initiative of the National AIDS Authority and Ministry of Cult and Religion, with technical support from UNICEF
Across Cambodia, faith-based organisations are an important part of the national response to HIV and AIDS. This publication highlights the significant role that faith-based actors have in the social and economic development of children, women and families. This review provided a unique opportunity to document Buddhist, Christian, Muslim and inter-faith initiatives providing varied and wide ranging responses to HIV. Together they mobilise volunteers, and implement innovative HIV prevention, treatment, care and support, and impact mitigation interventions inclusively to all community members. Far from shying away from complex and sensitive issues, nearly half of the participating faith-based organisations work with key affected populations, and over two-thirds provide sexuality and family planning education.
The commitment of faith-based organisations to meeting the wider social and economic needs of Cambodians affected by HIV is clear. They support children to access education, provide nutritional support and vocational training, and implement income generation activities, all of which help to re-establish financially stricken families.Notably, selected faith-based organisations have demonstrated important work in supporting family and community based social protection initiatives which ensure that vulnerable children are cared for by their families, rather than promoting institutional care which has adverse effects for children.
Despite their successes, faith-based organisations remain acutely aware that HIV-related stigma and discrimination continue to seriously hamper their and others' efforts to respond effectively to people affected by HIV. Their approaches to tackle stigma capitalise on the unique role that faith leaders have in reaching out to communities, and three quarters of organisations reviewed promoted the meaningful involvement of people living with HIV in their responses. Faith-based initiatives demonstrate the profound impact that faith leaders and people living with HIV can have.
There is a need for greater collaboration and information sharing at sub-national and national levels between faith-based and secular initiatives, and this review is an important step towards recognising, documenting and connecting with faith-based organisations in Cambodia.
|
Plurpol Research 