More
Matrix Masters
Blogs
World Events
US News
Science & Health
Earth News
Free Speech
News from Africa
News from Palestine
Bill of Rights Under Attack

Matrix Masters'
SUPPORTERS

Lorenzo's
Random Musings
. . . about Chaos,
Reason, and Hope

 

Bush government halts family planning aid to U.N. Population Fund
WASHINGTON, July 22 (UPI) -- The Bush administration Monday announced it would withhold $34 million in funding set aside for the United Nations Population Fund, an overseas family planning initiative accused of supporting coercive abortions and involuntary sterilizations in China. Conservatives have accused the group of supporting practices that are illegal under U.S. law. Secretary of State Colin Powell decided that money earmarked for the U.N. Population Fund would instead be spent on programs administered by the United States Agency for International Development's Child Survival and Health Program Fund. "While Americans have different views on the issues of abortion, I think all agree that no woman should be forced to have an abortion," said State Department spokesman Richard Boucher. The U.N. Population Fund estimates that the $34 million from the United States would have allowed the agency to prevent 2 million unwanted pregnancies and more than 77,000 infant and child deaths. "The denial of these funds will, unfortunately, significantly affect millions of women and children worldwide for whom the life-saving services provided by the UNFPA will have to be discontinued. Women and children will die because of this decision," said Thoraya Obaid, executive director of the U.N. Population Fund. "We regret this decision by the administration and hope that the United States will reconsider its stand and rejoin the community of nations working through UNFPA to save women's lives, to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS and to improve the quality of life for hundreds of millions of the world's poorest people," Obaid said.

posted by West 8:45 PM