The Red Ribbon Awards – named after the “red ribbon” symbol indicating the global movement against AIDS – are given to small NGOs and community organizations who have demonstrated exceptional leadership quality in reducing the spread and impact of HIV and AIDS. The Awards are organized by the UNAIDS family and supported by CIDA, Irish Aid, the Global Fund, the Norwegian Government and others. The Awards had requested nominations for such organizations early this year.
Recently, UNDP announced that 25 organizations from about 17 countries have been selected by the panel for their outstanding work in reducing the spread and impact of AIDS. These organizations will receive cash awards and a recognition certification. Besides, they will also be invited for the upcoming XVIII International AIDS Conference in Vienna from 18-23 July, 2010.
These organizations are:
Africa
| Organization | Country | Work |
| Association Pénitentiaire Africaine | Burkina Faso | served as a model for raising awareness of prisoners’ human rights, specifically the right to health, which includes HIV prevention, treatment, care and support. |
| Center for Domestic Violence Prevention | Uganda | works at the civil society and government levels to build an environment that is supportive of women’s rights to safety and equality, underlying issues behind women’s vulnerability to HIV in that nation. |
| Chrysalide | Mauritius | operates a centre of support for women with HIV, drug users, sex workers and ex-prisoners, and has through HIV prevention and sensitization programmes reduced stigma and discrimination experienced by people living with HIV in communities. |
| Elan d’Amour | Cote d’Ivoire | played a catalytic role in improving access to HIV treatment and care by modelling how to integrate community organizations into the health care system |
| Nikat Women’s Association | Ethiopia | devoted to improving the living conditions of low-income women and commercial sex workers, thereby fighting poverty and protecting the right to health. |
| Physicians for Social Justice | Nigeria | trained family caregivers and volunteers to conduct home visits to support people living with HIV, and in particular women, thereby challenging existing gender and cultural stereotypes. |
| Positive Women’s Network | South Africa | Positive Women’s Network has been at the forefront of the HIV response by creating a safe space for women with HIV, comprehensively addressing their needs and forming a powerful group that educates the wider community about HIV. |
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