Speak out for those who cannot speak, for the rights of all the destitute. Speak out, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and the needy.
(Proverbs 31:8-9) NRSV
Get Involved
Together we can make a difference
What is advocacy?
Advocacy is to plead the cause of another together with them or on their behalf for justice — where important political and economic decisions are being made that affect the lives of those who are marginalized.
The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has two primary ways to stay abreast of the issues and provide ways to be involved: The Washington Office and the United Nations Office.
Find out how you can advocate.
See the impact of your giving
HIV and AIDS Grants for 2010
- Footprints (South Africa) $9,824
- HIV/AIDS Camp (Russian Round Table) $8,210
- Pibor HIV/AIDS Worshop (Sudan) $5,293
- APCS - AIDS Program of the CPC (DR Congo) $5,000
- NetACT Workshops (South Africa) $5,000
- Sewing Project of the CPC (DR Congo) $3,000
- Nkhoma Synod (CCAP – Malawi) Kongwe Presbytery Home-based care program evaluation $1,110
Global health, HIV/AIDS programs focus of subcommittee hearing
On March 31, 2011, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs held a hearing on global health and HIV/AIDS programs.
Ambassador Eric Goosby, U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator and head of PEPFAR, gave a statement before the U.S. Congress in support of President Obama’s budget request for 2012. Read the complete statement.
Among many topics, he spoke of the vital role of faith-based organizations, and he mentioned the importance for HIV prevention of delay of sexual debut and partner reduction. Here are two excerpts from his testimony.
“One thing we've tried to do with these Frameworks is to secure commitments to ensure participation of the full range of civil society partners needed for countries to respond effectively - including faith-based partners. In many countries, faith-based organizations play a critical role as part of national health systems, and it is vital for that role to be acknowledged and strengthened. In South Africa, for example, St. Mary's Hospital near Durban plays the role of a district hospital, fully integrated into the national system.”
“Now we also talk about 'combination prevention' to demonstrate the importance of relying on multiple prevention tools for a given population - including biomedical, behavioral, and structural approaches. It is essential for each country to know its epidemic, and PEPFAR is seeing the payoff from heavy investments in high-impact prevention activities tailored to the needs of specific countries. Evidence on the epidemiology of HIV within each country helps answer questions such as need for relative emphasis on youth or older population groups to find the right mix of programs that promote, for example, delay of sexual debut and partner reduction.”
Stand with Women and Girls at Home and around the World
Support Legislation to Stop Violence against Women
Because of their often subjugated or marginalized status, women are generally more vulnerable than men when it comes to poverty. Women and their families can succeed and generate great good in their societies when they have the right tools and resources available to them - economic opportunity, basic health care and education, the ability to participate in decisions that affect them, and recognition of their basic rights and dignity. Learn more.
United Nations Millennium Development Goals
In September 2000, building upon a decade of major United Nations conferences and summits, world leaders came together at United Nations Headquarters in New York to adopt the United Nations Millennium Declaration, committing their nations to a new global partnership to reduce extreme poverty and setting out a series of time-bound targets - with a deadline of 2015 - that have become known as the Millennium Development Goals.
One Campaign (To End Poverty)
About ONE Action
ONE Action seeks to raise public awareness about the issues of global poverty, hunger and disease and to ask our leaders to do more to fight these problems in developing countries. ONE Action — with the support of individuals and other advocacy organizations — will advocate for an increase in the United States' federal budget in overseas development assistance, including increased funding for the prevention and treatment of diseases in developing countries, implementation of debt relief for poor countries and promotion of more equitable international trade regimes.
ONE believes that allocating more of the U.S. budget toward providing basic needs like health, education, clean water and food would transform the futures and hopes of an entire generation in the world's poorest countries.
ONE Action will also seek to increase efforts to fight global AIDS and extreme poverty by advocating for legislation on debt cancellation, increasing effective international assistance, making trade fair and fighting corruption.
Jubilee USA Network (Debt Cancellation)
In the world's most impoverished nations, the majority of the populations do not have access to clean water, adequate housing or basic health care. These countries are paying debt service to wealthy nations and institutions at the expense of providing these basic services to their citizens. The United Nations Development Program estimated in 2003 that 30,000 children die each day due to preventable diseases. Debt service payments take resources that impoverished countries could use to cure preventable diseases. Debt cancellation frees up resources to reverse this devastating reality.
World AIDS Day
Get involved
World AIDS Day, December 1, is the one day of the year when individuals, churches and organizations from around world come together to remember that all our lives are touched by AIDS, especially those living with HIV and AIDS. It is the one day in the year where issues surrounding HIV and AIDS can take center stage.
The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) encourages congregations to make the most of World AIDS Day by engaging in some form of worship, event or advocacy focused on HIV and AIDS.
