AFPPD received
2010 UN Population Award along with Gates

The 2010 United Nations Population Awards were presented on June 3 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, and received by Mr. Yasuo Fukuda, Chairman of the Asian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development (AFPPD) and Mr. William Henry Gates, Sr. on behalf of his son and daughter-in-law.

In this award giving ceremony, Mr. Yasuo Fukuda, Chairman of the AFPPD and a former Prime Minister of Japan underlined the importance of population issues, saying that they are "not just simply a matter of statistics" but rather, "each statistic is a number that represents an individual person's life." (full text of speech of Mr Fakuda is available at  http://www.unfpa.org/webdav/site/global/shared/ documents/events/2010/popawards_statement_fukuda.pdf)  During the event, Mr. William Henry Gates, Sr., highlighted the problems that many family planning organizations are facing difficulties in receiving funding, saying, "quite simply, we stopped paying for one of the best health tools we have". He emphasized that family planning and population issues must continue to be priorities, adding, "if we are serious about saving women's lives, family planning must remain at the centre of the agenda."

During the Award Cermony, from left to right: Mr Yasuo Fakuda, Chairman, AFPPD, Mr William Henry Gates, S., Ms Asha Rose-Miiro, Deputy Secretary General, UN and Ms. Thoraya A Obaid, Executive Director, UNFPA

Speaking on behalf of United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Deputy Secretary General Asha-Rose Migiro mentioned that AFPPD has successfully pushed for the introduction of legislation on the elimination of violence against women and on the full spectrum of population issue so it is a worthy recipient of this award. She also described Bill and Melinda Gates as individuals who "have stirred the minds and hearts of others in positions of power to invest in new ways to help the poor and vulnerable". She went on to say, "they have demonstrated an exemplary humility about their life-changing contributions."

Underscoring these words, Mr. Gates announced that, "Bill and Melinda have decided that the foundation will match the prize money for this award and make a grant for the total amount to the Asian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development to help it continue the outstanding work for which it has been recognized today."

"The AFPPD, since last 29 years, has been conducting several innovative programs to mobilize parliamentarians from not only Asia Pacific region but around the world also," said Mr. Shiv Khare, Executive Director of AFPPD.
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