Leaders from various faith groups around the world on Tuesday pledged to prioritize and strengthen their response to HIV and to end the stigma associated with the pandemic.

Tveit and representatives of some 40 religions just came out of the first-ever religious summit of high level leaders on the HIV response. The March 22-23 event took place in the Netherlands where participants – including Baha'í, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim and Sikh leaders – signed a personal commitment to action, vowing to "be clear in my words and actions that stigma and discrimination towards people living with or affected by HIV is unacceptable," according to The Associated Press.

"Our focus was ending stigma and discrimination for those who are HIV positive and who have AIDS," the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, told the ELCA News Service. "We recognized that religious communities have been part of that."

In addition to discussing stigma, the diverse group of religious leaders also explored opportunities to promote universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support in their communities.

The group called for "a massive social mobilization" to support services for women to eliminate the transmission of HIV from mother to child.

"By promoting community solidarity they can prevent new HIV infections and ensure that people living with HIV are treated with dignity and respect," he stated.