Dr. Peter Piot, UNAIDS Executive Director and Under Secretary-General of the United Nations, will present the UNAIDS Awards for Outstanding Contributions to the AIDS Response to Mr. Li Xiguang, Mr. Yao Ming and Mr. Serge Dumont on September 17.

NBA star Yao Ming and NBA Lakers legend Magic Johnson has made a public service announcement that urges people not to fear or discriminate against people living with HIV/AIDS. The Yao Ming/Magic Johnson public service announcement has reached millions of Chinese television viewers.

Li Xiguang is the Executive Dean of the School of Journalism and Communication of Tsinghua University, Deputy-director of Tsinghua University Comprehensive AIDS Research Center, director of Tsinghua Institute for Health Communication. Li Xiguang is China’s leading health journalism educator and his team has also been serving as the country’s top think tank and media policy advisor in public health, such as in the fights against HIA/AIDS, SARS, bird flu and tobacco control. Prof. Li has edited and authored a number of educational books such as HIV/AIDS Media Book, Reporting against Stigmas: HIV/AIDS stories from China, A Handbook for Human Rights Reporting and A Handbook for Tobacco Control Reporting which was awarded a China Best Health Books Award of 2007.

Serge Dumont is a French businessman with close ties to the US and Europe, with work experience in Asia and China for more than 20 years. He is greatly involved in philanthropic activities, in particular in the fields of AIDS and education. As UNAIDS Special Representative, Serge Dumont is focusing his efforts on promoting stronger engagement of business, media, and celebrities in the worldwide response to AIDS, with a particular focus on Asia and Europe.