Anjali Gopalan holds her Master's Degree in International Development and Journalism and she worked for ten years with Asian gay communities in the United States. In 1994, she founded the Naz Foundation India Trust located in New Delhi, India. She is the chief executive officer of this non-governmental organization that is committed to raising awareness to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS. Naz formed to aid the undeserved and high risk groups in India by first starting a campaign for men who sleep with men, then a women's sexual health program in 1995, care and support services in 1996 and a Trucker's Intervention Coordination Unit in 1999. Anjali has also created an orphanage for children infected and affected by HIV and calls for laws that protect children from acquiring the disease (such as laws concerning child prostitution).

Since 2002, Anjali has been a member of the Gender Advisory Board for the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative. She recognizes the gender aspect of HIV/AIDS and stresses the need to advocate for women and to provide woman-friendly information.

In recognition of her dedication to HIV/AIDS awareness raising, Anjali was nominated as one of one thousand women worldwide for the 2005 Nobel Peace Prize.

Information on HIV/AIDS in India, end of 2003

Adult* HIV prevalence rate: 0.4%, to 1.3%
Adults living with HIV: 2,200,000 to 7,300,000
Adults and children living with HIV: 2,200,000 to 7,600,000
Women Living with HIV: 630,000 to 2,100,000
AIDS deaths (adults and children): 160,000 to 560,000

*Adult statistics for persons 15-49 years old

**statistics from deaths that occurred in 2003

Source: UNAIDS

Note: These numbers are ranges because there were no more precise estimates available.

Related Websites

http://www.nfi.net

The official website for the Naz Foundation International.

http://www.giveworld.org/naz/naz_profile.htm

This website contains information about the Naz Foundation's mission, goals, and background.

http://www.1000peacewomen.org

The official website announcing the one thousand women that were nominated for the 2005 Nobel Peace Prize.