UN agencies unveil winners of Red Ribbon Awards in fight against HIV/AIDS

Iran's Positive Club (Hamyaran Mosbat), based in Mashhad, Khorsan Razavi Province, among the laureates

10 June 2008, UN News Center – Twenty-five local organizations from around the world have received the Red Ribbon Award 2008, a United Nations laurel given every two years to celebrate outstanding community leadership and action in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

The UN Development Programme (UNDP) and the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) announced the winners, which were drawn from 550 nominations submitted from 147 countries, today to coincide with the General Assembly's high-level meeting on the scourge.

Jeffrey Malley, the Director of UNDP's HIV/AIDS Practice, said there were many "brilliant examples" around the world of community action and leadership on HIV prevention, care, treatment and support.

"However, most of them are unheard and unsung," he said. "The Red Ribbon Award is a way to recognize and honour them."

The laureates – which each receive $5,000 – were chosen by a technical review committee of experts in the field, and were selected for their innovation, impact, sustainability, strategic partnerships, gender sensitivity and social inclusion.

Five of the 25 winners will be chosen by a jury of eminent persons at an international AIDS conference in Mexico City in August to receive special recognition in the following categories: providing access to treatment, support and care; supporting children orphaned by AIDS; promoting human rights; empowering women and girls; and providing HIV prevention programmes and services. Those winners will each receive an additional $15,000.

The 25 winners comprise nine from Africa, seven from the Asia-Pacific region, five from Latin America and the Caribbean, two from Eastern Europe and Central Asia, and two from the Middle East and North Africa.

The African winners are:

Centre for Popular Education and Human Rights – Ghana;

Coalition of Women Living with HIV/AIDS – Malawi;

Consol Homes – Malawi;

FIMIZORE (Fikambanana Miaro ny Zony Rehetra) – Madagascar;

Mama's Club – Uganda

Ntankah Village Women Common Initiative Group – Cameroon;

Power Positive Support Community Based Organization – Kenya;

Sanerela + - South Africa;

Voice of Roses – Kenya.

The Asia-Pacific laureates are:
 

Empower Foundation – Thailand;

National Federation of Women Living with HIV/AIDS – Nepal;

People Like Us (PLUS) – India;

Sanghamitra – India;

Sankalp Rehabilitation Trust – India;

Social Action for Women – Thailand;

Yayasan Kesehatan Bali (Yakeba) – Indonesia.

The Latin America and Caribbean winners are:
 

ASONVIHSIDA – Nicaragua;

Asociaciσn Civil Amavida – Venezuela;

Fortaleciendo la Diversidad – Mexico;

Grupo De Amigos con VIH – Mexico;

Promoteurs Objectif Zιro Sida (POZ) – Haiti.

In Eastern Europe and Central Asia, the winners are the Estonian Network People Living with HIV (Estonia) and Orlovskaya Regional Non-profit Organization against AIDS, Phoenix PLUS (Russia).

The Middle East and North Africa laureates are Morocco's Association de Lutte Contre le Sida and Iran's Mashhad Positive Club (Hamyaran Mosbat).

Related Web Sites:

Family Planning Association, Islamic Republic of Iran:

HIV Positive Club, Tehran