President Lula and his countless award wins
Outgoing Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was recently awarded the 2010 UNAIDS Award for Leadership in recognition of his contribution to social and economic development, as well as the AIDS response.
Since assuming office in 2003, Lula has received a huge number of medals and prizes to reflect the good work that he has done throughout his term as president of Brazil. And his popularity certainly doesn't stop with the judging panel.
Lula is in fact rated the most popular Brazilian president of all time, after scoring a record 80.5 per cent approval rate among the country's people during his final months of presidency.
Even US president Barack Obama has shown his fondness for the leader in the past, greeting Lula at the 2009 G20 summit in London by saying: "That's my man right there … the most popular politician on earth."
In the same year, Lula was chosen by prominent European newspapers El Pais and Le Monde as Man of the Year, while the UK's Financial Times ranked him among the 50 public figures who shaped the Noughties.
At the start of 2010, Brazil's outgoing ruler was handed the honour of Global Statesman by the World Economic Forum, held in Switzerland, while Time Magazine recently named him one of the most influential world leaders in modern history.
His latest accolade, the 2010 UNAIDS Award for Leadership, was presented on World AIDS Day by Michel Sidibe, the organisation's executive director.
The medal recognises Lula's pivotal role in building social justice, reducing poverty and accelerating Brazil's progress towards achieving the United Nations' (UN) Millennium Development Goals.
"President Lula is a leader whose bold action on AIDS has changed lives around the world," declared Mr Sidibe at the ceremony in Brasilia.
"He is a partner to developing nations, stands up against discrimination and [is] a remover of barriers," the director added.
Receiving his award, Lula said: "I am very happy to have had the opportunity to advance the Millennium Development Goals and to have helped other countries to do so.
"The fact that our efforts are being recognized means a lot to me. I would like to share this award with all those who have contributed to reaching these goals."
Designed by revered British artist David Poston, the medal is carved from lime wood and plated with gold.
The award, which many would say doubles as an original work of art, is said to embody the rippling of water and its far-reaching effect. This represents a symbolic link to Lula's leadership and its important role in the AIDS response.
Over the past seven years, Lula has also attained a host of other medals, including the Brazilian Order of Merit, the Mexican Order of the Aztec Eagle and the Norwegian Order of Royal Merit.
Following his inauguration in 2003, he received the Price of Asturias Award for International Cooperation.
Clearly a remarkable leader and a well-respected politician, Lula's influence over Brazilian and global improvement has certainly got him noticed.
With Lula due to leave office on January 1st 2011, president-elect Dilma Rousseff – the country's first female ruler – will certainly have some big shoes to fill.
