For Immediate Release:	July 24, 2002
For More Information:	Fiona Salter, Internationa Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), fsalter@ippf.org, +44 20 7487 7892
Sponsor Organization:	International Planned Parenthood Federation
In response to today's announcement from the European Commission, the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) congratulates the European Commission, EU Member States and ACP countries for their strong commitment to international sexual and reproductive health with their generous support of its two leading agencies IPPF and UNFPA.
IPPF sustained a loss last year of US$ 8 million as a result of the Bush Administration's Mexico City Policy, an amount which would have prevented half a million unwanted pregnancies, a thousand maternal deaths and 17,000 infant and child deaths. At a time when international commitments for sexual and reproductive health and rights have been continuously eroded by the United States Administration, not just with the reinstatement of the Mexico City Policy, but with the on-going undermining of reproductive health services languages in United Nations forums and now with the de-funding of the world's largest conduit for reproductive health funding, European solidarity and commitment to the Cairo Programme of Action on Population and Development is more than ever necessary. The IPPF has a long-track record of working in partnership with the European Commission on projects which help to save women's lives, stop unwanted pregnancies and curb the spread of HIV/AIDS in many of the world's poorest countries, including African, Pacific and Caribbean (ACP) countries. The trust of the European Commission and the Governments of ACP states in the IPPF, its network of family planning associations and volunteer base in 160 will further strengthen its work to ensure universal sexual and reproductive health service access by 2015. The funding from the European Commission to fill the 'decency gap' left by US president Bush will be used to ensure that fewer women die in childbirth, more people are protected from HIV/AIDS, fewer people contract sexually transmitted diseases and that vital projects around the world may continue to offer sexual and reproductive health services to young people, women and vulnerable groups. As the leading non-governmental organisation in the field of sexual and reproductive health and rights, the IPPF wholeheartedly welcomes the new partnership with the European Commission and the Governments of ACP States. For more information and to set up interviews, contact Fiona Salter at IPPF in London on fsalter@ippf.org fsalter@ippf.org> / 44 (20) 7487 7892 or Kathy Siddle on ksiddle@ippf.org/ ksiddle@ippf.org/> 44 (20) 7487 7818 or Vicky Claeys in Brussels on VClaeys@ippfen.org VClaeys@ippfen.org> +32 (2) 2500963. The International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) is the world's largest voluntary organisation in sexual and reproductive health and rights provision. Founded in 1952 in India, the IPPF works in more than 180 countries worldwide.