Five community groups honoured with UN-backed prize for AIDS activism

Five community organizations from Ghana, India, Iran, Malawi and Mexico have received special recognition as winners of the Red Ribbon Award, a United Nations initiative that honours outstanding local leadership and action in responding to the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

Of the more than 550 organizations from 147 countries that were nominated, 25 were awarded $5,000 and were invited to participate in the XVII International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2008), which is taking place in Mexico City this week.

The winners of the Award – which is presented every two years – were announced in June by the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), and were honoured at an awards ceremony last night in Mexico City.

Five of the 25 winners received 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.

They are Centre for Popular Education and Human Rights, Ghana; Sanghamitra, A Women’s Collective, India; Consol Homes, Malawi; Fortalecidendo la Diversidad, Mexico; and Hamyaran Mosbat – The Mashhad Positive Club, Iran. They will each receive an additional $15,000.

“These are extraordinary organizations helping to meet the needs of their own communities in often very difficult circumstances,” Rebecca Grynspan, Director of UNDP’s Regional Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean, said during the awards ceremony. “In doing so they have shown extraordinary creativity, courage and leadership in responding to the epidemic and achieving tangible results with limited resources.”

“All the Red Ribbon participants at this conference are winners,” said As Sy, Director of Partnerships and External Relations at UNAIDS. “We hope that the knowledge and resources gained from AIDS 2008 will help inspire you in your own communities in taking your work to the next level. I know all of us have learned from you and your experiences. This knowledge is truly what the Red Ribbon Awards are about.”

The 25 winning organizations are also participating in AIDS 2008, where they are hosting the Community Tequio in the heart of the Global Village, a space for participants share their experiences and best practices on HIV/AIDS issues.