UNFPA Funding to Save Women’s Lives in Jeopardy

July 2002 - Money appropriated in last year's budget for UNFPA (U.N. Population Fund) continues to be held hostage despite the fact that President Bush included funding for the U.N. agency in his own FY02 budget request. The President signed the FY02 Foreign Operations Budget in January 2002 which included $34 million for UNFPA. But the funds have not yet been released. Why?

In response to an allegation made by a single right wing group, the Bush Administration sent a three person team to China in early May, headed by former Ambassador Bill Brown, to review the U.N. Population Fund Program there. The team returned and completed a report which they submitted to the White House at the end of May. The Administration has yet to release the findings from the report.

Contacts:

Sarah Craven, UNFPA Washington Representative, (202) 326-8713 Stirling Scruggs, UNFPA Director of Information and External Relations, (212) 297-5011 Related news available at the U.S. Committee for UNFPA website For additional information on UNFPA's work worldwide, go to: www.unfpa.org See fact sheets on: - Addressing Obstetric Fistulas - Responding to Emergency Situations - Preventing HIV/AIDS - Providing Reproductive Health Essentials

Background Information

• Read The Washington Post's June 29 story reporting despite a positive report on UNFPA by the three person team visiting China, “President Bush is heading toward a decision to cut off millions of dollars of funds for an international family planning program opposed by abortion foes.” Click here
• For more information on the Kemp-Kasten Amendment, read the full 9-page report from the Congressional Research Service or a two page fact sheet. Click here
• See the fact sheet: "Why the United States Should Continue Funding for UNFPA" prepared by Population Action International. Click here
• See The New York Times' April 26 commentary by Nicholas Kristof, "Devastated Women," that describes UNFPA's efforts help women suffering from fistula in developing countries. Click here
• Read a special expose by Salon.com about anti-UNFPA, anti-family planning group, Population Research Institute. Click here

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