The United Nations Association of New York invites you to attend
a special event hosted by the Permanent Mission of the Czech Republic to the United Nations
The 2026 World AIDS Day
Commemoration and Humanitarian Awards
Tuesday, 1 December 2026
4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Complimentary admission
____
United Nations Headquarters
46th Street and First Avenue | Visitors Entrance
New York City
____
All Seat Requests HERE
All reservations must be made by November 23
Reservations are required and are not transferable.
Also: Please bring a government-issued ID, and arrive at the Visitor’s Entrance at 46th Street and First Avenue. Please arrive by 3:00 p.m. to allow time for security.
2 0 2 6 H O N O R E E S
____
Dr. David Ho
Director, Wu Center for Pandemic Research
Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons
____
Kyle Clifford
Chief Executive Officer
amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research
____
Annie Lennox
Singer-Songwriter and HIV/AIDS Activist
The 2026 World AIDS Day
Commemoration and Humanitarian Awards
Join us at this special event on World AIDS Day, hosted by the Permanent Mission of the Czech Republic to the United Nations, as we honor three decades of advancing prevention, scientific breakthroughs, treatment access, and the drive toward a cure.
The United Nations Association of New York is proud to announce its 2026 Humanitarian Awards at the UN, with the honorees sharing their messages at the commemoration. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the awards, which have honored many distinguished individuals and institutions over three decades.
2 0 2 6 H U M A N I T A R I A N A W A R D H O N O R E E
Dr. David Ho
Director, Wu Center for Pandemic Research
Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons
Dr. David Ho is a Professor of Microbiology & Immunology and the Clyde '56 and Helen Wu Professor of Medicine at Columbia University and Director of the Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center. He has been advancing therapies against viral diseases for nearly 40 years and has been engaged in AIDS research since the beginning of the epidemic.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Ho’s previous experience as an adviser to governments in Beijing, Hong Kong, and Taipei during the 2002–03 SARS epidemic led him to assemble a multi-disciplinary team of physicians, scientists and engineers at Columbia that has identified one of the broadest and most potent panels of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 to date. Several of these antibodies are currently in clinical development for the treatment and prevention of COVID-19.
In addition to ongoing HIV research efforts, the Ho lab is continuing to investigate the pathogenesis and molecular mechanisms underlying SARS-CoV-2 infection in order to bring new solutions to the testing, treatment, and prevention of COVID-19.
2 0 2 6 H U M A N I T A R I A N A W A R D H O N O R E E
Kyle Clifford
Chief Executive Officer
amfAR. The Foundation for AIDS Research
Kyle Clifford is the Chief Executive Officer of amfAR, bringing more than three decades of experience across the private and nonprofit sectors in senior leadership, business development, fundraising, and strategic donor engagement. He is the organization’s first CEO openly living with HIV.
In this leadership role, Mr. Clifford directs amfAR’s global strategy to accelerate scientific discovery and advance amfAR’s mission to end the AIDS epidemic through innovative research, public policy advocacy, and philanthropic partnerships.
Mr. Clifford first joined amfAR in 2020 as Chief Development Officer, where he oversaw fundraising strategy, including individual and institutional giving, corporate partnerships, direct response, e-philanthropy, workplace giving, prospect development, and a robust special events portfolio. amfAR raises tens of millions of dollars annually from its domestic and international galas, including new events Mr. Clifford instituted in Palm Beach, London, and Las Vegas since joining the organization.
Before joining amfAR, Mr. Clifford served as Vice President of Development at The Ireland Funds, a global philanthropic network that has raised more than $650 million to support over 3,200 organizations in Ireland and around the world.
Earlier in his career, Mr. Clifford held senior roles at City Harvest in New York City. A graduate of the University of Limerick in Ireland with a bachelor’s degree in Business Studies and Spanish, Mr. Clifford has also held senior business development positions in both Spain and Ireland.
2 0 2 6 H U M A N I T A R I A N A W A R D H O N O R E E
Annie Lennox
Singer-Songwriter and HIV/AIDS Activist
Annie Lennox (born 25 December 1954 in Aberdeen, Scotland) is a Scottish singer-songwriter, political activist, and philanthropist known for her powerful voice, distinctive style, and long career in music. Raised in a working-class family, she studied classical music at London’s Royal Academy of Music before turning to popular music. After early work with the band the Tourists, she formed the duo Eurythmics with Dave Stewart in 1980. Eurythmics became one of the most successful acts of the 1980s, selling tens of millions of records worldwide with their synth-pop sound and Lennox’s striking visual image. In the early 1990s she launched a solo career that produced multi-platinum albums, multiple Brit Awards (including a record six for Best British Female Artist), four Grammy Awards, and an Academy Award for Best Original Song. Across her career she has sold more than 80 million records.
Beyond music, Lennox has devoted significant energy to humanitarian causes, with a particular and sustained focus on HIV/AIDS. A pivotal moment came in 2003 when she performed at the launch of Nelson Mandela’s 46664 campaign in South Africa and heard him describe the epidemic’s toll, especially on women and children, as a form of genocide. Deeply affected by visits to clinics, orphanages, and affected communities, she became a committed activist. In 2007 she launched the SING campaign, writing and recording the song “Sing” with 23 other prominent female artists to raise awareness and funds. The campaign supports organizations providing treatment, care, and prevention efforts (including work to stop mother-to-child transmission) primarily in Southern Africa, such as South Africa and Malawi, while also addressing related issues of stigma, gender inequality, and violence against women.
Lennox has served as a UNAIDS International Goodwill Ambassador, HIV Ambassador for London, and Special Envoy for HIV and AIDS in Scotland. She is known for publicly wearing an “HIV Positive” T-shirt in solidarity with those living with the virus, and her advocacy has combined fundraising, high-profile performances, policy engagement, and personal storytelling to combat stigma and promote access to care. In recognition of her broader charitable work she was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2011. She has also supported other causes, including women’s rights through her organization The Circle, and groups such as Amnesty International and Greenpeace. Lennox continues to be celebrated both as a musical icon and as a dedicated advocate whose activism has helped keep the ongoing impact of HIV/AIDS — particularly on women and children — in the global spotlight.