Voluntary Family Planning Programs Linked To National Security
Washington, DC - March 27, 2006The Bush administration's recently revised National Security Strategy (NSS) – the blueprint for U.S. management of major security-related challenges worldwide – cites the critical role of "foreign assistance to support the development of free and fair elections, rule of law, civil society, human rights, women's rights, free media, and religious freedom." Ironically, the President's 2007 budget request will ultimately cut voluntary family planning programs that are increasingly recognized by defense and intelligence analysts as linked to U.S. national security.
Evidence suggests that rapidly growing and youthful populations are associated with the outbreak of conflict and unrest. PAI's research found that countries with large youthful populations – known as a youth bulge – were more than 2.5 times as likely to experience a new outbreak of conflict during the 1990s. The defense and intelligence communities – including the National Intelligence Council, the Defense Intelligence Agency, and the CIA – have also cited the potential dangers posed by large youthful populations in parts of the developing world.
Virtually all of the world's population growth occurs in developing nations, many of which are ill-equipped to manage the additional burdens posed by rapidly growing populations. Many nations with the greatest population pressures are also areas that pose increasing security risks. For example, countries such as Afghanistan and Somalia are projected to nearly triple in population in the next forty-five years.
Voluntary family planning programs can play an important role in creating a more peaceful and stable world. Regrettably, U.S. funding cuts for family planning programs have exacerbated service shortages at a time when more than 200 million women in the developing world lack desired access to modern contraceptives. U.S. family planning funding has fallen more than $100 million (35%) since 1995, with the President's 2007 budget proposing an additional 20 percent reduction. Put into broader perspective, the U.S. spent $437 million on international family planning assistance in 2005 – the equivalent of just nine hours of U.S. defense spending.
President Bush states in the NSS's preamble that "We choose to deal with challenges now rather than leaving them for future generations." PAI couldn't agree more. U.S. leadership on international family planning assistance is crucial and must be restored.The Bush administration's recently revised National Security Strategy (NSS) – the blueprint for U.S. management of major security-related challenges worldwide – cites the critical role of "foreign assistance to support the development of free and fair elections, rule of law, civil society, human rights, women's rights, free media, and religious freedom." Ironically, the President's 2007 budget request will ultimately cut voluntary family planning programs that are increasingly recognized by defense and intelligence analysts as linked to U.S. national security.
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.
