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Tell your senator to support UNFPA
With the battle over the Supreme Court looming, activists are poised to demand that their senators reject the nomination of right-wing anti-choice judges. Here’s an opportunity to show that your commitment to family planning and reproductive rights doesn’t stop at the Next week the Senate will vote on an amendment sponsored by Senator Clinton that would take the first step in restoring funding to UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund. UNFPA, which provides family planning services to women, men, and teens in 126 countries, has been defunded for the past three years by the Bush administration.
Dear [ Decision Maker ] , I'm writing to urge you to vote in favor of the Clinton amendment to the FY 2006 Foreign Operations Appropriations bill (H.R. 3057). This amendment would take the first step in restoring funding to UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund. UNFPA provides invaluable family planning services to women, men, and teens in 126 countries, yet the United States hasn't contributed to this effort for the past three years because of false allegations that the agency contributes to coercive abortion and sterilization practices in China. On the contrary, UNFPA is working to bring voluntary family planning to China, a fact confirmed by several groups sent to monitor the situation, including a fact-finding team handpicked by the Bush administration. It is estimated that restoring the United States contribution to UNFPA would prevent two million unwanted pregnancies, nearly 800,000 abortions, 4,700 maternal deaths, and 77,000 infant and child deaths each year. The United States should be contributing to UNFPA's essential work -- not refusing funding based on unproven allegations.
Sincerely, |
Campaign Launched: |
| Background Information |
UNFPA is the only multilateral agency dedicated to providing family planning and reproductive health care services worldwide.
The Bush administration has withheld funding to the organization for the past three years by alleging that the agency, with its relief efforts in
In actuality, UNFPA does the opposite — it is working with the Chinese government to eliminate coercive practices and to promote voluntary family planning and birth control methods. This has been confirmed by several groups sent to monitor the situation, including a fact-finding team handpicked by the Bush administration.
It is estimated that restoring the