US Government Denies Future Funding to UN Sexual and Reproductive Health Agency
TL/DR –
The US Government will deny future funding to the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency, UNFPA, citing the Kemp-Kasten Amendment, which prevents funds from supporting organizations involved in coercive abortion or involuntary sterilization. The UNFPA, which averagely received $180 million annual funding from the US, denies engaging in such practices in China. The funding cut is expected to adversely affect millions of people in humanitarian crises, particularly women and girls in over 20 countries who benefit from critical maternal healthcare, protection from violence, treatment for rape, and other life-saving care.
US Government Cuts UNFPA Funding for Reproductive Health Services
The United States government will stop funding the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency, UNFPA, creating significant challenges for millions of people in humanitarian crises and midwives dedicated to preventing maternal deaths during childbirth.
The US employed the Kemp-Kasten Amendment to justify the funding cuts, citing unproven claims about UNFPA’s work in China. The amendment restricts funding to organizations allegedly engaging in coercive abortion or involuntary sterilization. Yet, repeated evaluations by the US Government itself have found no evidence of UNFPA’s involvement in such practices in China.
The US had been a key UNFPA partner, providing average yearly funding of $180 million.
The withdrawal of future funding coincides with termination notices UNFPA received for over 40 humanitarian grants. These grants, amounting to about $335 million, funded essential maternal healthcare, protection from violence, and treatment for rape in over 20 crisis-hit countries and territories.
The funding cuts will drastically affect women and girls globally. In Afghanistan, for example, over 6.3 million women will be deprived of maternal health and other services. In the occupied Palestinian territory, the establishment of vital mobile obstetric units, safe spaces for women and girls, and supplies of medicines and post-partum kits will be discontinued.
We appeal for support in safeguarding the welfare of women and girls.
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