Culture in all its forms and definitions needs to be integrated with HIV and AIDS mitigation strategies if the Commonwealth is to stem the increase of HIV infections across all regions.

This was among the key messages that emerged from a briefing held at the Commonwealth's headquarters in Marlborough House, London, on 16 July 2008 attended by High Commissioners and representatives of civil society organisations from across the Commonwealth.

"The aim of the briefing was both to raise awareness about how HIV and AIDS prevention, treatment and care strategies can be more effective when indigenous and cultural knowledge is valued and integrated and also to demonstrate the emerging acceptance of culture's role in development," said Dr Mark Collins, Director of the Commonwealth Foundation, which organised the event.

HIV / AIDS

Commonwealth countries represent approximately 30 per cent of the world's population, but carry a disproportionate 60 per cent of the world's HIV and AIDS current burden of over 40 million infected people.

Civil society partners from the Pacific, Caribbean, Africa and Asia spoke to reinforce these messages. MacBain Mkandawire, Director, Youth Net and Counselling, Malawi, highlighted the NGO's use of "edutainment," which has been successful in reducing stigma in communities as a result. Representatives from the Impulse NGO Network, India provided a live theatrical demonstration of these techniques in the form of street theatre to showcase the complex realities for sex workers

Robin Vincent, Senior Advisor for HIV / AIDS at Panos London noted that culture was not only a communication tool for prevention and mitigation messages. "Culture is also about dynamic expression and creating a space for reflection," Vincent said. He cited examples of cultural activities featuring characters and situations that local people could relate to, which gave them the opportunity to develop their own perspectives.

"We must always listen to the people in the community and help them identify and understand the local support systems before putting in any interventions," said Joseph Amuzu, Health Adviser from Commonwealth Secretariat, who also addressed the briefing.

This briefing was part of a series of activities for the Pan-Commonwealth HIV Network, facilitated by the Commonwealth Foundation with chapters in each region.