International Women's Health Coalition - United Nations Population Fund Restoration Act (S. 2682)

United Nations Population Fund Restoration Act (S. 2682)

Introduced by Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY)

What it is
Why you should support it
Bill status
Take action

What it is >>

UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, was created in 1969, with the strong support of the United States government. Today, 180 countries from all regions of the world (though not the United States) provide support to UNFPA programs operating in more than 154 countries. Operating under an international framework UNFPA, works with governments and NGOs in supporting efforts to provide sexual and reproductive health services, including contraceptive and family planning services, obstetric and neonatal care, and preventing and managing sexually transmitted infections including HIV/AIDS, training safe birth attendants, and providing essential supplies to women in disaster or conflict situations. UNFPA only supports voluntary access to these services, ensuring that individuals are choosing themselves to access any of them.

Since 2002, the Bush Administration has blocked the release of U.S. contributions to UNFPA called for by Congress over baseless allegations that the organization has helped to provide coercive abortions in China. This suspension of funding has persisted even though the State Department conducted its own investigation and found in 2002 that there is "no evidence that UNFPA has knowingly supported or participated in the management of a program of coercive abortion or involuntary sterilization."

Senator Clinton introduced the United Nations Population Fund Restoration Act to make it U.S. policy to fund UNFPA’s invaluable work, including the provision of contraceptives for the prevention of unintended pregnancies and spread of STIs, including HIV/AIDS; prevention and treatment of obstetric fistula; and the abandonment of harmful traditional practices, such as female genital cutting and child marriage.

Why you should support it >>

UNFPA provides essential services to improve the lives of women, men, and youth. The UNFPA provides a myriad of services, including improving reproductive health, making motherhood safer, supporting adolescents and youth, preventing HIV/AIDS, and increasing gender equality. The United States' share of the world’s contribution to the UNFPA must be restored so that these necessary services that the UNFPA provides, often in areas where they are the only services available, receive the monies needlessly withheld. The United States' contribution to the UNFPA will be restored with the passage of this bill.
Restoration of funding would support specific components of UNFPA’s work. The bill will restore the U.S. contribution to the UNFPA, allocating the annual contribution toward specific activities to prevent the Bush Administration from misinterpreting the law in an effort to continue the funding blockade. Specific components that will be funded through the passage of this Act are providing and distributing equipment, medicine, and supplies; contraceptives for the prevention of unintended pregnancies and the spread of sexually transmitted infections, including HIV/AIDS; preventing and treating cases of obstetric fistula; reestablishing maternal health services in areas where medical infrastructure and such services have been destroyed or limited by natural disasters, armed conflict, or other factors; abandoning harmful traditional practices, including female genital mutilation and cutting and child marriage; and access of unaccompanied women and other vulnerable people to vital services, including access to water, sanitation facilities, food, and health care.

Bill Status >>

The United Nations Population Fund Restoration Act (S. 2682) was introduced in the Senate on February 29, 2008 and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

Take Action >>

Help build support for this vital legislation. Make a phone call today.

Contact your Senators today and ask them to co-sponsor the United Nations Population Fund Restoration Act and work to ensure that these provisions are included in other HIV/AIDS legislation being considered by Congress. Click here to find your Senator and his or her contact information. If your Senator is already a co-sponsor, write or call to thank them for their leadership on this issue!

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