Paris, April 6, 2017 – Equilibres & Populations condemns this funding cut and affirms its solidarity with UNFPA, the United Nations agency working to ensure that every pregnancy is wanted, every birth is safe, and every young person fulfills their potential.
The US administration has decided to withdraw its annual financial support of approximately $70 million to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). This UN agency works in more than 150 countries and territories, home to more than 80% of the world's population.
The pretext for this cut is based on unfounded accusations that UNFPA supports or participates in sterilization and coercive abortion programs in China. UNFPA and its partners, as well as the U.S. Congress, have already refuted these accusations in the past.
"UNFPA has been a natural ally of Equilibres & Populations since its creation: we are saddened to see this key player in development lose a tenth of its funding," said Alain Marié, president of Equilibres & Populations.
"This cut, decided under false pretences, is an extremely worrying symbolic gesture for women's rights and the fight against inequality around the world, and will have a real impact on millions of women and girls," adds Aurélie Gal-Régniez, Executive Director of Equilibres & Populations.
With the support of the United States, UNFPA has changed the lives of millions of women and couples. In 2016 alone, US funding helped prevent 947,000 unwanted pregnancies and 295,000 unsafe abortions.
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.
