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South Africa's AIDS Law Project (ALP) on Friday became the recipient of the "Award for Action on HIV/AIDS and Human Rights", presented by the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network and Human Rights Watch.
ALP was lauded for spearheading communications efforts to inform the South African public of their rights with respect to HIV/AIDS.
Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network executive director, Ralf Jurgens, said in a statement: "The AIDS Law Project gives the world a model for combating AIDS by fighting stigma, discrimination, sexual violence and other gender-related abuses that fuel the epidemic."
ALP was co-founded by the country's most prominent AIDS activist, Zackie Achmat, and has also been lobbying for access to antiretroviral drugs by people living with HIV/AIDS.
ALP's grassroots movement recently led to an announcement by the South African government that it would roll out an antiretroviral treatment plan.
This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions