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This World AIDS Day, December 1st, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) family is honoring the 25 winners of the Red Ribbon Award in their respective countries by disbursing the funds to bolster their activities. Since 2004, the Red Ribbon Award has been highlighting community leadership and action on AIDS, distributing grants that range from US$5,000-20,000.

In the Latin American region, five organizations received the Red Ribbon Award and will be invited to events organized by the United Nations Country offices. This year’s winners are from Mexico (Fortaleciendo la Diversidad and Grupo de Amigos con VIH), Haiti (Promoteurs Objectif Zéro Sida), Nicaragua (ASONVIHSIDA), and Venezuela (Asociación Amavida).  

These and other 20 winners were announced on the international stage during the XVIIth International AIDS Conference in Mexico last August. Now, the funds and recognition will allow them to foster local partnerships to further their efforts and broaden their reach, while opening doors towards the inclusion of those whose lives are touched by the epidemic.

Their scope of work touches a broad range of issues pivotal to an effective response to AIDS. Groups that were awarded in Latin America and the Caribbean address  specificities of the epidemic in the region, such as educating transgender sex workers on HIV prevention and self-acceptance, advocating governments, offering direct support to women and children living with HIV, and raising awareness in indigenous communities.

Selected from over 500 global nominations in a community-led process, the winning organizations embody excellence in the grassroots efforts on tackling HIV/AIDS worldwide. Each awardee is a testament to the success of community-based organizations in the response to AIDS.

Click here for summaries of the winning projects.

ABOUT THE RED RIBBON AWARD

The Red Ribbon Award: Celebrating Community leadership and Action on AIDS recognizes the outstanding work of community-based organizations in helping to curtail the spread of HIV. The Red Ribbon Award is presented  every two years during the International AIDS Conference, with the aim of providing a global platform for community-based organizations to display their work and shining a light on the effectiveness and pivotal role of grassroots organizations worldwide.  The 2008Award received 550 nominations from 147 countries. It honors a strong and diverse group of 25 organizations that are exceptional in the innovation they represent, the impact they achieve and the populations they serve. For more information, please visit www.redribbonaward.org

PARTNERS

The Red Ribbon Award is an initiative promoted by UNAIDS, with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) as Secretariat.  Other partners include the International AIDS Society; The Canadian International Development Agency; Irish Aid; the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria; the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs; and Fordham University.