January 22, 2002

The President of the United States of America

Mr. George W. Bush

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW

Washington, DC 20500

USA

Dear Mr. President,

Equilibres & Populations is a non-governmental organization created by physicians and journalists to advocate the more efficient use of development aid by mobilizing French, European, and Francophone decision-makers and public opinion around activities promoting health and education.

Therefore, we were delighted to see that the industrialized countries of the world ­ beginning with the United States ­ have ratified the objectives of the Millennium Summit, making health and education the basic instruments for fighting world poverty.  We were also pleased to learn that the United States Congress has increased the American contribution to the UNFPA for 2002, thus recognizing the essential role played by the United Nations Fund for Population in the field of social development.

Conversely, our disappointment was great upon learning that your government has the intention of opposing the vote of Congress, in the name of the Mexico City Policy.¹

Mr. President, we were among those who expressed our solidarity with the American people the day after the terrible attacks of September 11, 2001. And yet, as you well know, above and beyond the indispensable military operations against terrorism, in the long term, what will ensure the security of the planet is the eradication of this poverty that plunges half of humanity into despair.

Along with other democracies of the world, the United States is today prepared to reconstruct an Afghanistan that finally respects the dignity of women and children.  How can you, at the same time, contemplate withdrawing the means of action of the organization that works the most ­ and the most efficiently­ for the rights and empowerment of women?

Convinced that all of this is a simple misunderstanding, and that you will authorize as swiftly as possible the American contribution to the UNFPA, helping improve the lives of poor people and ultimately the stability of the world, I offer you my best regards, Mr. President.

Sincerely,

Dr. Marie-Claude Tesson-Millet

President,

Equilibres & Populations