In the coming weeks, the Senate will be considering several pieces of legislation that the House has already acted on – many of which include provisions that undermine the health and rights of women and young people.  Please call and tell your Senators to:

• Support UNFPA: The UN Population Fund is a global partner working with national governments to ensure access to essential reproductive health services including family planning, end harmful traditional practices against women and girls, and protect human rights. Yet, some in Congress have a long-standing opposition to UNFPA’s mission:  empowering women and young people. They want to end UNFPA and what it stands for.
• Oppose the Global Gag Rule: Reinstating the policy blocks funds for organizations to provide family planning services if that organization also participates in public debate about or refers patients for abortion services. This policy harms women and lessens the positive impact of investments being made. Different Presidents have gone back and forth imposing and rescinding the policy – and now some in Congress want to put this misguided policy into law, which the Senate should block; and
• Support International Family Planning Funding: Times are tough and budget cuts need to be made – but not on the backs of the world’s poorest people, and not for basic health programs critically needed by women and young people. The House has made huge cuts to family planning programs (25% from FY2011) – disproportionate cuts compared to other global health programs (9% from FY2011).

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