United Nations Population Fund Women's Health and Dignity Act (HR 2604)
Introduced by Rep. Joe Crowley (D-NY)

What is it
Why you should support it
Bill Status
Take Action

What it is>>

This bill would provide support to UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, to carry out specific activities to save women's lives, reduce the incidence of unsafe abortion and maternal mortality associated with unsafe abortion, and promote universal access to safe and reliable reproductive health services.  Administration actions have kept the United States from providing support to UNFPA since 2002, and this legislation would enable a contribution to be made from the US.

Why you should support it>>

• Expand access to sexual and reproductive health services:  UNFPA is the only multilateral agency specifically devoted to providing adults and adolescents with sexual and reproductive health services, including birth control supplies and education, prenatal and obstetric care, and the prevention and treatment of sexually transmitted infections, including HIV/AIDS.  UNFPA has programs in more than 140 countries throughout the world that reach many more people than USAID's bilateral programs.

• Support key health and rights interventions:  The UNFPA Health and Dignity Act would enable U.S. funds to be used to:
  • provide and distribute equipment, medicine, and supplies, including safe delivery kits and hygiene kits, to ensure safe childbirth and emergency obstetric care;
  • make contraceptives available for the prevention of pregnancy and sexually-transmitted infections, including HIV/AIDS; 
  • reduce the incidence of abortion and maternal mortality related to unsafe abortion;
  • reduce and eliminate coercive family planning practices, including coercive abortion and involuntary sterilization;
  • prevent and treat cases of obstetric fistula; and
  • promote abandonment of harmful traditional practices, including female genital mutilation and child marriage. 

• Make the U.S. part of the global community:  Despite the fact that Congress has annually allocated resources to the UNFPA since 1969, the Bush Administration has withheld funds totaling $161 million since 2002.  The Administration consistently uses false arguments to insist that UNFPA is supporting China's egregious policies that lead to forced abortions and sterilizations.  But over the past 20 years, both government and independent investigative teams have found no evidence that UNFPA supports these activities - and rather is a force for positive change in China.  This legislation would direct a U.S. contribution to UNFPA to specific - and necessary - health programming, while separating that support from the false claims about UNFPA in China.  More than 170 countries provide support to UNFPA - but not the United States.

Bill Status>>

The UNFPA's Women's Health and Dignity Act was introduced in the House on June 7, 2007 by Rep. Joe Crowley (D-NY) and referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Take Action>>

Help build support for this vital legislation. Make a phone call today:

• Contact your Representative and ask him or her to co-sponsor the UNFPA's Women's Health and Dignity Act. Click here to find your Representative and his or her contact information.
• Thank Joe Crowley for taking leadership on this issue - email him at write2joecrowley@mail.house.gov.