NEW DELHI, 8 August 2008: A Mumbai-based NGO working for the rights of sex workers was among the five community organisations from India, Ghana, Iran, Malawi and Mexico that received the Red Ribbon Awards for their role in battling HIV/AIDS.
The Mumbai-based NGO Sanghamitra, a womens collective, won the award at the 17th International Conference on Aids in Mexico City for lobbying for universal condom usage by sex workers and their work with the police to protect legal rights as well as with health clinics to improve health services.
Of the more than 550 organisations from 147 countries that were nominated, 25 were awarded 5.000 US dollar. Out of the 25 awardees, five winners received 20.000 dollar in recognition of their exceptional response to HIV at the local level.
Apart from Sanghamitra, the other organisations awarded were Centre for Popular Education and Human Rights in Ghana, Hamyaran Mosbat – The Mashhad Positive Club in Iran, Consol Homes in Malawi and For-taleciendo la Diversidad in Mexico.
It is the second time the awards were being presented. The first was at the 2006 International AIDS Conference in Toronto.
This year the final jury among others included Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway. The Red Ribbon Award Secretariat is hosted by the UNDP and supported by the 17th International AIDS Conference, the Canadian International Development Agency, Irish Aid and the Norwegian foreign affairs ministry.
Kilder: Indo-Asian News Service og The Push Journal
