photo: IRIN News / Courtesy of UNFPA Philippines
Last month 6 countries announced new commitments to dramatically reduce maternal, newborn and child mortality, as part of the Global Strategy for Women’s and Children’s Health.
“The commitments build on the momentum of recent months, and prove that saving the lives of the most vulnerable can attract support at the highest levels,” says Ban Ki-moon, the United Nations Secretary-General, who is leading the Every Woman Every Child campaign to accelerate progress on Millennium Development Goals 4 (child mortality) and 5 (maternal health)”. (UNFPA)
However the great news of more support for vital UNFPA programs could be cast in a dark shadow by the withdraw of funding. A new bill recently introduced in the United States Congress, if passed would end funding for United Nations programs which promote the health of women and children in some 150 countries across the globe.
The legislation, H.R. 2059, is only a mere 21 words long:
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of State may not make a contribution to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
However this one sentence would have detrimental consequences for the tens of thousands of women and children that UNFPA aids. The UNPA has programs on Safe Motherhood, Sexual Violence, Adolescent Reproductive Health, HIV/AIDS Prevention in Infants, Human Trafficking, Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), Child Marriage, and much more. These programs keep children and their mothers save and health, as they provide both disaster and daily relief. This vital work aids in the prevention of countless needless and preventable deaths of pregnant women and their unborn children; works to end child marriage; stop gender-based violence, and empower women and girls. The UNPA also woks with women and children who have been displaced by armed conflict and natural disasters, such as in Haiti where they seek to prevent sexual attacks on women by providing solar powered lights in displacement camps.
If you feel strongly that these 21 misinformed words will be detrimental to children across the globe, then please join the fight to stop Congress from eliminating all funding for these critical services, and place emphasis on the crucial need to our global society to ensure that we protect and keep women and children safe and healthy. You can Write your member of Congress to vote NO on H.R. 2059 via The Better World Campaign.
