Awards for Action on HIV/AIDS and Human Rights

The Awards for Action on HIV/AIDS and Human Rights were established in 2002 by the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network and Human Rights Watch.

The Awards highlight outstanding contributions that decrease vulnerability to HIV/AIDS and protect the rights and dignity of those infected and affected.

Recognizing excellence and long-term commitment to work having a direct impact on HIV/AIDS and human rights issues — in particular work that is of direct relevance to marginalized individuals and communities — an award is presented annually to one Canadian and one international recipient. The 2010 international award will be announced at the XVIII International AIDS Conference in Vienna in July.

2010 International Recipient: Healthy Options Project Skopje

Started in 1997 in Skopje, Macedonia, Healthy Options Project Skopje (HOPS) is a citizen association that initially operated as Macedonia’s first needle exchange program. Since then, it has successfully operated a range of harm-reduction programs, preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections. It also operates programs to foster social reintegration and re-socialization among youth and vulnerable groups such as drug users and sex workers and their families.

HOPS carried out a video advocacy campaign following a November 2008 police raid targeting sex workers. Authorities forcibly tested those they detained for HIV and hepatitis C virus and published photos and videos of the detained sex workers. The campaign drew international attention and opened a dialogue with law enforcement officials to reduce the number of violent incidents committed against sex workers by police officers and improved police response when sex workers experience violence at the hands of others.

In addition to helping contribute to policy change, HOPS' outreach activities and drop-in centre have encouraged safer behaviours among Macedonian sex workers and helped create a sense of community and greater empowerment for sex workers, people who use drugs, and other socially marginalized people.

2010 Canadian Recipient: Ralf Jürgens

Ralf Jürgens is one of the co-founders of the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network and was its Executive Director from 1998 to November 2004. Since December 2004, he has worked as a consultant on HIV/AIDS, health, policy and human rights in Eastern Europe, Central Asia, Africa and Canada , including for the International HIV/AIDS Alliance, Open Society Institute, UNAIDS, WHO and more recently the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

Ralf is a member of the UNAIDS Reference Group on HIV and Human Rights and of the Leadership and Accountability Committee of the 2010 International AIDS Conference. The author of many reports and over 100 articles on legal, ethical and human rights issues related to HIV, Ralf has received numerous Canadian and international awards for his contribution to the fight against HIV and for human rights, including the 2009 International Rolleston Award.

Ralf was the coordinator of Canada’s Expert Committee on AIDS in Prisons and taught the first course on AIDS and the law ever to be offered at a Canadian university. Ralf has a Master’s Degree in Law from Montréal’s McGill University and a doctorate in law from the University of Munich, Germany.

Learn more:

• Past recipients
• Call for nominations