米、中国の「強制中絶」を理由に国連人口基金への出資拒む

China Abortion Cited in U.N. Funds Denial
Fri Sep 16, 9:22 PM ET - AP

For the fourth consecutive year, the Bush administration has decided to withhold funding from the U.N. Population Fund, saying the agency contributes to China's "coercive abortion" program.

The administration decision was disclosed in a letter from Under Secretary of State Nicholas Burns to key senators. Congress had appropriated $34 million for the program, but gave President Bush the authority to decline to spend the money.

China has denied using any coercive measures in its population control efforts.

The fund's executive director, Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, called the decision disheartening and said one goal of the fund is to get women to use voluntary family planning to avoid abortion.

The decision drew fire from several House Democrats.

Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., a leader in the fight to resume the U.S. contribution, said President Bush's "extreme right-wing base" is dictating the policy, causing hardship for women and children in the world's neediest nations.

Rep. Nita Lowey, another New York Democrat, called the decision "a blow to our efforts to improve women's health around the world."

The Population Fund provides maternal health care and family planning services to women around the world.

The fund "works hard to end coercion by proving the efficacy and superiority of the voluntary approach to family planning over any other alternative," Obaid said.

In a statement, Obaid noted that the fund receives support from 166 countries "that believe in strengthening (its) role as a leading voice for human rights in family planning, safe motherhood and AIDS prevention.

"I hope the United States will rejoin the family of nations that support our multilateral work," Obaid said. "Our task is made more urgent by the fact that more than 300 million poor women in the world suffer from ... illnesses related to pregnancy or childbirth, with more than half a million of them dying each year."

Amy Coen, president of Population Action International, said she was dismayed but not surprised by the administration decision.

She said she was angry that the administration would again "de-fund an organization that is so vital in the quest" to reduce hunger and poverty abroad.

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On the Net:

U.N. Population Fund: http://www.unfpa.org/