Congressional Update: US FY 2008 Foreign Assistance "Endgame"

Two months into the 2008 fiscal year, the White House and Congress have finally reached an agreement on a massive FY 2008 omnibus spending bill. Tragically, their agreement omits a provision that would have partially repealed the Global Gag Rule, which would have helped save women's lives and reduced the need for abortions in developing countries.

PAI President/CEO Amy Coen released this statement to the press on Monday on the agreement:
"We commend members of Congress—on both sides of the abortion debate—for finding common ground to improve the lives of women and their children, thus reducing unintended pregnancies, abortion, and HIV infection through greater access to contraceptives. It is tragic that President Bush was unable to follow their lead. His persistent threat to veto the foreign assistance bill doomed this life-saving measure. It is unconscionable for a president to ignore the majority of the members of Congress, the majority of Americans and the best interests of millions of human beings because he is blinded by his own narrow beliefs. Today the shadow of one man darkens the lives of so many."

Learn more details about the family planning and reproductive health budget and policy issues in the omnibus spending bill  in this week's Viewpoint: US FY 2008 Foreign Assistance "Endgame"

Associated Press article: Dems Lose Fight on Family Planning Aid
Watch Access Denied: U.S. Family Planning Restrictions in Zambia to learn more about the devastating effects of the Global Gag Rule

The Shape of Things to Come Tours Europe!

Amy Coen, PAI President/CEO; General Claudia Kennedy, PAI Board Member; Elizabeth Leahy; Tod Preston; and Tyler LePard launched The Shape of Things to Come in Europe! In partnership with World Population Fund in the Netherlands and DSW (The German Foundation for World Population) in Germany, the team from PAI presented the key findings of Shape at several events for journalists, government officials, think tank staff, students and more.

Learn about the Shape European Tour on PAI's new blog:

Screening of  “Fighting the Silence” at the Dutch Foreign Ministry
The Peace Palace
Berlin 1: Trains, Taxis and Bicycles -- From the Netherlands to Germany
Berlin 2: “Ich bin ein Berliner.”
Berlin 3: “A Wake Up Call for Germany”

Strategic Planning and Clinic Visits in Uganda

Terri Bartlett, Carolyn Vogel and Jennifer Johnson traveled to Kampala to participate in the Eastern Africa Reproductive Health Network's (EARHN) Annual Coordination Meeting which was organized jointly with the first Project RMA Regional Meeting. After three days of meetings, EARHN had a draft strategic plan to guide their future work and the PAI team was able to tour the city, visiting clinics and learning the realities facing women in this beautiful country.

Learn about PAI's trip to Kampala on our new blog:

Strategic Planning in Kampala
After Three Days in Kampala, a Strategic Plan is Born
A Visit to Kampala's Naguru Teenage Centre
Taking Reproductive Health Services Directly to Those in Need: The Kitebi Teenage Centre

PAI Presents at the Fifth African Population Conference in Tanzania

Next, PAI staff members Terri Bartlett, Wendy Turnbull, Tod Preston and Elizabeth Leahy convened in Arusha, Tanzania for the Fifth African Population Conference! While at the conference, the team screened Abstaining from Reality to a packed audience and presented The Shape of Things to Come. The team was even able to visit a reproductive health unit at a local hospital to learn more about the reproductive health situation in Tanzania.

Learn about the conference on PAI's new blog:

The Fifth African Population Conference
No Contraception for You: Stockouts in Tanzania

Scouting for the PAI Friends Study Tour in Mexico City

Michele Duryea and Christine Bixiones from PAI's Development Department went to Mexico City to solidify PAI’s relationship with our partner organization, Equidad de Género, and to verify that the itinerary for next year’s Friends Study Tour captures a diverse group of organizations working on sexual and reproductive health and rights in Mexico.

They sent back their impressions of the city and of the great work our partner organizations are doing in their blog: PAI Friends Study Tour: Mexico City

Regional Advocacy Training in Fiji

PAI Research Assistant Sarah Haddock took part in a regional advocacy training for young people from the Pacific put on by the Youth Coalition for Sexual and Reproductive Rights, a subgrantee of PAI's.

Read about the regional advocacy training in Fiji in the PAI Blog!

Back to the States: The UN Conference Special Session on Children in New York City

In the final stop of PAI's whirlwind world tour, PAI staffers Kate Tibone and Sarah Haddock attended the UN Conference Special Session on Children in New York City. The meeting was a followup to review progress made in the past 5 years toward meeting the goals of the outcome document, "A World Fit for Children."

Read a behind the scenes account of the meeting on the PAI Blog!

Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!

As the year draws to a close, we at Population Action International would like to extend our best wishes to everyone for a Happy and Healthy Holiday Season. We also want to thank everyone who over the past year has lent time, energy and support to help us with our mission. Together we are making a change by improving the lives of women and their families throughout the world.

So it's now on to the festivities, enjoy your time together with your friends and family and if you find you still need that last minute gift for a loved one or friend who has everything - a gift to PAI in their honor may be just the way to go. It's one way your can wrap up the world and package it for the future.

Happy New Year to All!

---

Support PAI By Making an Online Donation!