Title: U.S. moves forward on international promises.

POPLINE Document Number: 142945

Author(s):

Kawadler W

Source citation:

REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM NEWS, 1999 Jun;8(6):4.

Abstract:

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is wholly funded by voluntary contributions from UN members to improve the quality and accessibility of voluntary family planning services in the most poor regions of the world. In 1997, UNFPA provided support services to 168 countries for reproductive health, including family planning, the prevention and treatment of sexually transmitted infections, HIV/AIDS, infertility, and maternal and child health care. In 1997, extremist US Representative Chris Smith, a Republican from New Jersey, led a movement in Congress to defund US contributions to UNFPA, citing China's coercive reproductive health practices even though no UNFPA funds were used to support coercive practices and UNFPA strongly opposes them. In March 1999, a bipartisan group of Senators introduced a bill in the US Senate to restore UNFPA funding. The bill, which has already passed the House International Relations Committee by a vote of 23-17, authorizes the appropriation of $25 million to UNFPA for fiscal year 2000 and $35 million for the following year, while also addressing important public health and human rights concerns.

Keywords:

United States
Government
Opposition to Family Planning
Funds
Foreign Aid
International Cooperation
UNFPA
Developed Countries
North America
Americas
Political Factors
Attitude
Psychological Factors
Behavior
Financial Activities
Economic Factors
UN
International Agencies
Organizations