State Department To Contribute $50M To U.N. Population Fund

Main Category: Women's Health / Gynecology
Also Included In: Sexual Health / STDs;  Public Health
Article Date: 27 Mar 2009 - 5:00 PDT

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The Obama administration will resume U.S. contributions to the United Nations Population Fund, which were suspended under former President George W. Bush, the AP/eTaiwanNews.com reports. The State Department will contribute $50 million to UNFPA, according to the AP/eTaiwanNews.com. State Department spokesperson Robert Wood said the decision "highlights the [Obama] administration's strong commitment to international family planning, women's health and global development."

A UNFPA spokesperson praised the announcement, adding that it would boost efforts to train midwives, improve family planning, prevent the spread of HIV and help meet other goals. The Bush administration had cut off funding for UNFPA over claims that funding for family planning in China "supported forced abortions and sterilizations," according to the AP/eTaiwanNews.com. The agency says the claims are inaccurate (AP/eTaiwanNews.com, 3/25).

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