E.U. Not Providing Adequate Resources For Sexual, Reproductive Health Services In Developing Countries, Report Says

Main Category: Sexual Health / STDs
Also Included In: Women's Health / Gynecology;  Aid / Disasters
Article Date: 12 Oct 2007 - 1:00 PDT

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European Union countries are failing to provide adequate funding for sexual and reproductive health in developing countries, according to a report released Tuesday by the German Foundation for World Population, the AP/International Herald Tribune reports.

The report found that the European Commission's funding for sexual and reproductive health services was 18.5 million euros, or about $25 million, annually between 2003 and 2006. Annual funding of 12.3 million euros, or about $17 million, has been earmarked for 2007 to 2013. The report also notes that Europe accounts for nearly 65% of world development aid, but only 1.8% of E.U. aid in 2004 went to reproductive health, compared with 2.8% in 2002 (AP/International Herald Tribune, 10/9). The report's figures do not include European Commission contributions to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, Inter Press Service reports.

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Karen Hoehn -- a spokesperson for the German Foundation, also known as DSW -- noted that many development projects financed by the European Commission as part of efforts to combat HIV/AIDS do not directly relate to family planning. "Fighting AIDS is absolutely imperative morally and for fighting poverty," but "family planning is too," Hoehn said, adding that European countries "have shown such a consistent commitment in political rhetoric for family planning. There is no excuse for them not to provide funding." Anne Van Lacker, a Belgian member of parliament, said the E.U. budget at one time had a section for sexual and reproductive health but has now adopted the system of distributing funds directly to recipient countries, which makes it "very difficult ... to track where money is going."

According to Sietske Steneker -- the United Nations Population Fund representative in Brussels, Belgium -- the lives of 150,000 women could be saved annually with access to reproductive health services. Van Lacker added, "Every minute of every day a women dies from complications from ... giving birth. This can be prevented through education, information and ensuring access to family planning."

UNFPA figures estimate that fewer than 20% of all sexually active young people in Africa use contraception. In 56 low-income countries studied by UNFPA, women give birth to an average of six children, compared with three children in the five highest-income countries (Cronin, Inter Press Service, 10/10).

The report, a DSW release and a fact sheet are available online.

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