The European Union’s Chaillot Award, which recognizes progress in the field of human rights in the Gulf Cooperation Council states, has been awarded to three projects mainly dealing with disabilities, autism and Alzheimer’s disease.

First place when to the Doha-based Shafallah Centre, for an autism awareness campaign that it ran across Qatar. Autism is one of the least diagnosed childhood disorders in the Arab world. The centre launched its awareness campaign in 2 April 2011, along with the World Autism Awareness Day. The campaign offered a free hotline for parents seeking information about autism, as well as encourage early diagnosis. The centre also offers an education unit which offers a curriculum tailored for the needs of children with autism.

Second place went to the Prince Salman Center for Disability Research (PSCDR). The non-profit centre, based in Riyadh, provides laboratory and field research in disability. Research at the centre ranges from biomedical to social and educational. it also works to raise awareness about the rights of people living with disabilities in the Arab world.

The third prize when to Saudi Alzheimer’s Disease Association, also Riyadh-based, which works to improve the quality of life of people living with Alzheimer’s disease by offering them tailored-services, advocating, and raising awareness across the Kingdom. Alzheimer’s is, again, very under-reported in the Arab world and most countries in the region do not have accurate information on prevalence or treatment costs.