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Bill and Melinda Gates and the Asian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development (AFPPD)

Bill and Melinda Gates and the Asian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development (AFPPD) have won this year's UN Population Award, the UN Population Fund announced here on Tuesday. 

"Through direct financing and by providing 'seed money' to elicit the participation of other donors," Bill and Melinda Gates, co-founders and co-chairs of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, "have galvanized private involvement in philanthropic enterprises, " the Fund said in a press release. 

"Mr. and Mrs. Gates have long focused on problems of maternal health and family planning in developing countries, and on identifying the root causes of these problems in order to find innovative solutions. In its advocacy role, their foundation has championed the Millennium Development Goals," it said. 

The AFPPD, created in 1981, comprises 25 national parliamentarian committees and has offices in 13 countries. 

"Some successful examples that illustrate AFPPD's efforts include: Cambodia, Indonesia, the Philippines and Sri Lanka adopted new laws on HIV and AIDS; Indonesia approved the Domestic Violence Law and amended those on health and population; and the Philippines and Thailand adopted bills to eliminate violence against women," the Fund said. 

The award is given annually to individuals and institutions for outstanding work in population and in improving the health of individuals.

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