The Longer the Administration Waits, the More Women’s Lives Are at Stake

Washington DC - September 12, 2005

Every year by this time the Bush Administration has announced its decision to withhold critical funds from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). This year the Administration is dragging its heels in announcing what will undoubtedly be a similar decision, not only at the expense of UNFPA and its critical health programs, but also of the women and families U.S. assistance is designed to reach.

The United States historically has held a leadership role among donor countries in support of UNFPA – the largest internationally funded source of population assistance to developing countries – and its contributions to the improvement of maternal and child health, the ability of women to plan their families, and the prevention of sexually transmitted infections, including HIV/AIDS.

Under the current administration, however, the United States has forfeited that leadership role and numerous opportunities to help strengthen UNFPA. Led by its misguided belief that UNFPA supports coercive practices in China – a belief proven untrue by the Administration’s own top-level investigative panel – the Bush Administration has refused to release Congress-approved funds to UNFPA totaling $93 million since 2002. That dollar amount will grow if the Administration withholds another $34 million earmarked for UNFPA in Congress’s FY2006 Foreign Operations spending bill.

As long as the Administration prolongs its funding decision, the women and families on the receiving end of UNFPA programs will not benefit from U.S. assistance, and their safety, health and overall quality of life will bear the cost.Every year by this time the Bush Administration has announced its decision to withhold critical funds from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). This year the Administration is dragging its heels in announcing what will undoubtedly be a similar decision, not only at the expense of UNFPA and its critical health programs, but also of the women and families U.S. assistance is designed to reach.

Population Action International (PAI) works to improve individual well-being and preserve global resources by mobilizing political and financial support for population, family planning and reproductive health policies and programs.