No support from Muslim clerics on barrier contraceptives

At least 80 Muslim and Christian religious leaders debating HIV prevention at a recent conference in Cairo, Egypt, have not endorsed the UN's support of barrier contraceptives.

However, a joint declaration emphasising the importance of reaching out to vulnerable groups, including commercial sex workers, injection drug users and men who have sex with men, was released after the conference.

After years of resistance due to religious and social stigma associated with HIV and AIDS in the Arab world, the declaration is viewed by the UN as a cornerstone for action.

The Associated Press quoted UN spokeswoman Nadine Shamounki as saying: "Just getting these large figures and these religious communities to speak about something, in a manner that was extremely open, was quite revolutionary. It's a totally unexpected and refreshing approach [compared to the view] that God was punishing these people."