For Immediate Release:	July 24, 2002
For More Information:	Stefanie Ettelt, Deutsche Stiftung Weltbevoelkerung (DSW), stefanie.ettelt@dsw-hannover.de, +49 511 943 73-17
Sponsor Organization:	BMZ AND DSW
"The decision of the Bush administration to remove all form of support from UNFPA marks a victory for ultraconservative fundamentalism against humanity.” --DSW Executive Director Hans Fleisch
Berlin/Hannover, July 23, 2002 The USA’s refusal to support the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has been heavily criticised by both the German Development Minister, Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul and Dr Hans Fleisch, Executive Director of the German Foundation for World Population, DSW. By withholding financial support, the US administration had decided against the health and lives of innumerable women and families in developing countries, provoking unthinkable/harmful consequences, condemned Ms Wieczorek-Zeul and Dr Fleisch. They further warned, that anyone who denied women access to family planning methods would have to accept the risk of higher birth rates and an increase in maternal and infant mortality rates. The German Minister Ms Wieczorek-Zeul branded the USA’s decision as entirely based on ideology and an attempt to appease US conservatives. Criticising UNFPA’s work in China, on which the US government based its decision to stop funds, was nothing more than a pretext. According to the outcome of a recent American government delegation visit to China, the criticism angled at UNFPA was unjustified. Furthermore, the Minister pointed out that in as early as May, the Council of European Development Ministers had asked the USA to continue supporting UNFPA. “The decision of the USA is entirely incomprehensible,” said Ms Wieczorek-Zeul. “In reaching its decision, the American government has contravened all international obligations to enable women to gain access to family planning services.” “The decision of the Bush administration to remove all form of support from UNFPA marks a victory for ultraconservative fundamentalism against humanity,” said DSW Executive Director Hans Fleisch. “Because of this decision, reactionary powers in the Bush government who shy away from all issues relating to sex education and women have been able to assert their authority. Every year, UNFPA’s work saves the lives of millions of women, men and children. It is now up to the member states of the European Union to work counteract this decision. They must increase their funding to UNFPA considerably, in order to restrict the negative consequences caused by the gap in financing. It is furthermore vital that the EU continues to maintains this stance during the forthcoming World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in Johannesburg, in order to ensure that the subject of population development and voluntary family planning is not overlooked. Failing to do this would only allow these ultraconservative powers to claim a further victory.” Known especially for its family planning and reproductive health programmes, UNFPA is active on a world-wide basis and is responsible for contributing considerably towards a reduction in population growth. UNFPA has found great praise over the years due to its political neutrality and specialist knowledge.