Press release
Paris, March 8, 2017
March 8: Sexual rights, what is France's financial commitment?
On International Women's Day, Equilibres & Populations calls on the French government to invest financially in sexual and reproductive health and rights, particularly in West Africa, the region of the world where needs are greatest.
Equilibres & Populations is now calling on France to translate the "Paris Pledge" into financial commitments. The universal struggle to defend women's rights around the world can only succeed with massive investment.
Today, French President François Hollande, accompanied by Jean-Marc Ayrault, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Laurence Rossignol, Minister of Families, Children and Women's Rights, is launching the "Paris Pledge," with the "universal right to sexual and reproductive health" as its primary focus. This event is taking place in a difficult international context. The recent withdrawal of US funding for global health, under the "Global Gag Rule," has created a shortfall of approximately $600 million per year. In fact, funding was already severely inadequate in relation to the needs of the population. This means that the situation is now urgent.
Faced with this situation, around 20 countries provided an initial response last week. At the "She Decides" conference held in Brussels on March 2, more than €180 million was secured to fill the gap created by Donald Trump's executive order. France did not contribute directly to the initiative, merely reiterating commitments already made, which are very modest in scope. However, in West Africa, where many of the countries prioritized for French official development assistance are located, the needs in terms of sexual and reproductive health and rights are among the greatest in the world. Our association, Equilibres & Populations, highlights this in a recent publication entitled "The challenges of family planning in West Africa: Why France's support is essential."
March 8 is undoubtedly the last opportunity for the government to announce a significant financial commitment in this area. Several channels already exist, including bilateral projects carried out through the French Development Agency (AFD), multilateral bodies such as the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and ad hoc initiatives such as She Decides. Like several European countries, France must announce new funding commensurate with its diplomatic efforts.
Press contact: Nicolas Rainaud – Equilibres & Populations – nicolas.rainaud@equipop.org – +33 (0)6 73 72 25 37
Notes to editors: Equilibres & Populations is an association created in 1993 by doctors and journalists, which works to improve the living conditions and status of women, an essential factor for fair and sustainable development in sub-Saharan Africa.
