UNITED NATIONS, New York, CMC

Former Barbados Senior Minister Dame Billie Miller has been awarded the 2008 United Nations Population Award.

The UN Population Fund (UNFPA) said Wednesday Dame Billie, who was also a former foreign affairs minister and a gender advocate, is the recipient of the award along with a New York-based non-governmental organisation (NGO) that "helps to save the lives of women in developing countries."

Dame Billie and Family Care International (FCI) were chosen from among 11 individual and seven institutional nominees from around the world, the UNFPA said.

The award is given each year to individuals and institutions for their "outstanding work in population and in improving the health and welfare of individuals," UNFPA said.