Senate Hearing on UNFPA:
Washington, D.C. - February 28, 2002Population Action International (PAI) described yesterday's Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing as a "first-step" toward a resolution of the on-going dispute between Congress and the White House over funding for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
"It makes no sense for the White House to hold hostage congressionally-approved funds, in light of this Administration's past support for UNFPA, and its recent recognition of the importance of UNFPA's work in countries like Afghanistan," said Amy Coen, President of PAI.
Among those testifying were Ambassador Nicolaas Biegman of The Netherlands and former Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees and Migration Phyllis Oakley, both distinguished diplomats with years of experience in the population and family planning field. Last year Amb. Biegman led a team to China to review UNFPA's new project underway in 32 of China's 2300 counties. As Amb. Biegman stressed in his testimony, his team found no evidence that UNFPA supports coercive abortion practices, and that in fact, UNFPA programs are playing a key role in reforming public views toward family planning.
"UNFPA's presence in China, though small, has been crucial in helping positively influence attitudes there toward women's reproductive healthcare," says Ms. Coen. "Furthermore, not one penny of the U.S. contribution to UNFPA has gone toward programs in China for the past eight years, due to legislative restrictions. The Administration's decision hurts millions of couples and their families in the other 140 countries in which UNFPA operates."
Among those testifying against UNFPA was a consultant for the Population Research Institute (PRI), an organization known for its opposition to contraception and government-sponsored family planning programs.
"Why is the White House giving credence to unsubstantiated information provided by a group whose avowed goal is to reduce - if not end - U.S. involvement in international family planning efforts?" said Terri Bartlett, Vice-President for Public Policy at PAI. "The Administration is ignoring the factual evidence and recommendations supplied by its own State Department and other more credible sources. The answer can only be politics."
"We urge the President release the full $34 million to UNFPA," said Ms. Coen. "To do anything
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.
