Every year, the Amnesty International Chair is awarded to someone who has made an exceptional contribution to the promotion of human rights. This year, the Chair was given to Peter Piot from Belgium, a global authority in the area of HIV-research and policy.

Peter Piot is known mostly known for his leading role in the combat against HIV and AIDS. In the seventies and eighties, Piot performed carried instrumental out pioneering scientific for research on the Ebola and HIV viruses. Later, he became thewas appointed director of the International AIDS society and the AIDS programme of the World Health Organisation.
In 1994, he was one of the creators founders of UNAIDS, which he lead until up to 2008. In that role he also tried to guarantee access to HIV services and treatment for as many people as possible. He was especially particularly concerned with social inequality, stigma and discrimination. Human rights were always inseparable from his work.
Currently, Peter Piot is director of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
In 1994, he was one of the creators founders of UNAIDS, which he lead until up to 2008. In that role he also tried to guarantee access to HIV services and treatment for as many people as possible. He was especially particularly concerned with social inequality, stigma and discrimination. Human rights were always inseparable from his work.
Currently, Peter Piot is director of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.