For Immediate Release:	July 11, 2004
For More Information:	Press Office, Office of Senator John Kerry, pressoffice1@kerry.senate.gov, (202) 224-2742
Sponsor Organization:	Office of Senator John Kerry
Senator John Kerry released the following statement for World Population Day (July 11, 2004) on the global fight for reproductive health and freedom:
World Population Day is an opportunity for us to renew our fight for reproductive health and freedom worldwide.This year's observance coincides with the 10th anniversary of the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development in Cairo, offering a chance to focus on the vital accomplishments made since that historic event, and on challenges still ahead. Ten years ago in Cairo, 179 governments agreed that addressing a range of population issues was essential to improving economic development and poverty relief efforts.Since then, governments around the world have successfully joined together to increase access to education and reproductive health services, efforts made immeasurably more important in light of the scourge of global AIDS. Unfortunately, this Administration has abandoned the United States' longstanding leadership role in promoting family planning and reproductive health in the developing world.In fact, one of George Bush's first acts as president was to reinstate the Global Gag Rule, stopping real health care services around the globe. Since entering office, President Bush has cut tens of millions of dollars from the United Nations' Population Fund and has moved to withhold money and support for groups like UNICEF that provide critically needed family planning services.As a result, tens of thousands of families around the world lack the healthcare, medical supplies and support they once had and still deserve. As President, I will reverse this short-sighted and unwarranted policy.I will restore full US funding to the UN Population Fund and reassert America's leadership in the fight for reproductive health and choice. American leadership in this arena is a vital part of our commitment to stabilize and rebuild troubled regions of the developing world, and to promote the rights and well-being of parents, children and families around the globe.