AIDES is a French community-based non-profit organisation that was founded in 1984 by Daniel Defert, following the death, from HIV/AIDS, of his partner Michel Foucault. The name is a play on "aides" (French for "help") and the English acronym "AIDS". Its aim is to bring people living with HIV/AIDS, together with their loved ones and peers, into an organised entity dedicated to fighting HIV/AIDS, and to defend the rights of people and communities affected by the disease.As of 2007, AIDES is active in France in 100 cities with 400 staff members and more than 1000 registered and trained volunteers. By the number of activists and its budget, it is the largest non-governmental organisation in France working on HIV issues. It is considered to be one of the main analysts of the epidemic in France.Internationally, AIDES has developed strong partnerships with fellow community-based NGOs in Africa, in Europe and in Canada (Quebec), to strengthen the role of civil society by sharing best practices, and to jointly advocate for global access to care and prevention. It also developed a partnership with the UN Programme on HIV/AIDS. Source: Wikipedia (en)