The Red Ribbon Award is presented every two years and is a joint effort of the United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) family and is supported by the Leadership and Community Programme Committees of the International AIDS Conference. It honours and celebrates outstanding community leadership and action that has helped curtail the spread and impact of HIV and AIDS. This year the Red Ribbon Award will be given to community groups for outstanding leadership in responding to AIDS in one or more of the following categories:

1. Ensure that that people living with HIV receive treatment.
2. Support HIV prevention, treatment, and care programmes for people who use drugs.
3. Remove punitive policies and laws, stigma, and discrimination that block effective AIDS responses and marginalise key populations (men who have sex with men, transgender people, sex workers, and prisoners).
4. Stop violence against women and girls and promote gender equality.
5. Enhance social support for those affected by HIV, including orphans and vulnerable children.

Twenty-five community-based organisations will be selected through a community-led process and invited to attend the XVIIIth International AIDS Conference in Vienna, Austria, from July 18-23 2010, where they will have an opportunity to showcase their work. All 25 organisations will receive US$5,000 each. Five of these will receive special recognition and an additional US$15,000.

Click here for more information or to access information in French, Spanish, or Russian.

Click here to access an online nomination form with registration or an MS Word or PDF format nomination form.

Click here to read about previous winners.

Red Ribbon Award website on December 1 2009, and email from Estefania Samper to The Communication Initiative on January 12 2010.