John L. McCullough, Executive Director and CEO of CWS, and Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda, General Secretary, World YWCA, speaking at a side-event at the High-Level Meeting on AIDS held at the United Nations in New York City from June 10-11, 2008. Photo: Lynne West/CWS

June 30, 2008

"In our experience, people really do understand the challenges they are facing and they do have answers. The problem is that they do not have the resources that they need to respond adequately," stated Rev. John L. McCullough, Executive Director and CEO of Church World Service.

McCullough was speaking as part of a panel on the topic "Financing and Resourcing Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment in the Context of HIV and AIDS," on June 9, 2008. Church World Service, World YWCA, UNIFEM, Global Coalition on Women and AIDS, and Women Won't Wait co-sponsored the panel as a side-event at the 2008 High-level Meeting on AIDS held at the United Nations in New York City, June 10-11 (http://www.un.org/ga/aidsmeeting2008/).

"Because of our proximity to people, the faith community can develop practical solutions at the grassroots level," explained McCullough. Church World Service works with the World Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) on the Rwanda "Giving Hope" program to expand the reach of churches and grassroots organizations in meeting the needs of orphans and vulnerable children affected by HIV and AIDS. As part of Church World Service support of "Giving Hope," handmade banana fiber note cards made by participants in one of the income-generating programs are sold on the Church World Service website.

In summarizing the recommendations from the panelists and the approximately 200 people in the audience, Ms. Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda, General Secretary of the World YWCA, stated the need to ensure that adequate funding was provided at the national level for planning, budgeting and monitoring of HIV and AIDS programs for women and girls. These recommendations will inform the work at the upcoming meetings on Financing for Development, which will culminate at the Follow-up International Conference on Financing for Development to Review the Implementation of the Monterrey Consensus, which will be held in Doha, Qatar, from November 29 to December 2, 2008.

In the coming year, Church World Service will continue to work in partnership with the NGO Committee on Financing for Development.

On July 16, the U.S. Senate passed the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) authorizing $48 billion to be appropriated through 2013. The House had previously passed PEPFAR reauthorization for $50 billion. Because the versions are different Congress must decide on the final details of the legislation, which may happen as early as July 23. (See how your Senators voted here)

Read more about what Church World Service does in this vital area.