FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Joana Casas, Program Communications Manager
212.806.1602; joana.casas@amfar.org
amfAR, the International AIDS Society, and The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation to present the Elizabeth Taylor Human Rights Award
Award recognizing exemplary human rights efforts in the field of HIV/AIDS to be presented at the 20th International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2014)
NEW YORK, March 24, 2014 – amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research, the International AIDS Society (IAS), and The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation (ETAF) are seeking nominations for the Elizabeth Taylor Human Rights Award, which recognizes an individual who has demonstrated excellence as a leader and advocate for human rights in the field of HIV/AIDS. The award will be presented at the 20th International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2014) in Melbourne, Australia on July 20-25, 2014.
The award honors the memory of Dame Elizabeth Taylor, amfAR’s Founding International Chairman and a highly visible, vocal and relentless champion of the human rights of all people living with or affected by HIV. It was first presented in 2012 at the International AIDS Conference in Washington, D.C., to Iranian physicians Arash and Kamiar Alaei to honor their efforts to put the issue of drug use and HIV on Iran’s national healthcare agenda and their engagement in human rights issues after their release from prison.
“Millions of people with HIV and AIDS live in countries and regions where they lack fundamental human rights due to their gender, age, sexual orientation, type of work, or lifestyle. These human rights violations incite stigma and discrimination, which pose serious barriers to HIV prevention, treatment and care, and ultimately fuel the spread of the epidemic,” said amfAR CEO Kevin Frost. “We look forward to honoring the memory of Elizabeth Taylor by presenting this award to a true champion of human rights in the field of HIV/AIDS.”
“The HIV epidemic is not only a global health issue, it is a human rights issue. It is a great pleasure to be part of this prestigious award,” said Bernard Kadasia, Acting Executive Director of the IAS. “There are people out there doing truly amazing work on human rights and HIV who deserve to be recognized at a global level. The International AIDS Conference offers the perfect forum to do so.”
"From the early days of the HIV/AIDS epidemic until her passing in 2011, Elizabeth Taylor had a passionate, unwavering commitment to human rights by raising awareness and fighting for a cure." said Joel Goldman, Managing Director of The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation. "We look forward to honoring someone who embodies that same fervent ambition and fearless leadership in the fight against HIV/AIDS."
Nominations may be submitted online at http://www.amfar.org/etnom/ and will be accepted until 9:00 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, April 30, 2014. For more information, go to www.amfar.org/ElizabethTaylorAward/.
About amfAR
amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research, is one of the world’s leading nonprofit organizations dedicated to the support of AIDS research, HIV prevention, treatment education, and the advocacy of sound AIDS-related public policy. Since 1985, amfAR has invested more than $388 million in its programs and has awarded more than 3,300 grants to research teams worldwide.
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