BOX 9. RELIGIOUS AND CULTURAL ISSUES (CONT.) ­ iscourse and willing to make an effort to reconcile religious/traditional views with d human rights and gender equality. • Promoting behaviour change often begins by identifying religious leaders who have the capacity and legitimacy to motivate and mobilize communities. Efforts in, for instance, Central Asian countries have shown that partnering with local religious leaders can be the best strategy in gaining wider acceptance and ownership of programmes that promote gender equality and reproductive health, not least to get men on-board in the struggle for reproductive rights. • Advocacy campaigns that are closely tailored to the religious and cultural contexts in which they are launched (without compromising on human rights) are superior in dealing with sensitive subjects. Campaigns should reflect not only the views of sympathetic religious and tradition leaders but also try to take into account the views of potential adversaries and should draw from sources that are popular within a given culture. Examples from Eritrea have shown that it is possible to work with various religious groupings, such as both Christian and Muslim leaders, at the same time. • Making the effort to understand the objectives of the faith-based organizations and religious and cultural leaders makes it possible to find the common ground that mostly does exist. This can be aided by using language that appreciates the nuances of religion and religious sensitivities. In this respect it is also important to acknowledge the constraints of religious and traditional partners and find ways to work also in areas where direct collaboration is not possible. When considering how to tackle religious, cultural and ethical values with the potential to both help and hinder reproductive rights, a NHRI should consider seeking advice from NHRIs in comparable countries, from civil society organizations with experience within this area, from local United Nations staff, including UNFPA country officers, and from religious and traditional groupings themselves. 98