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  • Title: The attempt to break down overseas population assistance: Population Crisis Committee.
    Author: Camp SL.
    Journal: Interaction; 1986 Jan; 6(1):8-9. PubMed ID: 12340678.
    Abstract:
    The Vice President of the Population Crisis Committee comments on current US population policies and on the potential impact of these policies on family planning programs around the world. The policies of the current administration pose a serious threat to family planning programs in developing countries. In May, 1984, the administration issued a population policy draft which identified economic mismanagement as the cause of most 3rd World problems and claimed that the free enterprise system was capable of solving most population growth problems. It further stated that the US would no longer provide funding support to any government or nongovernment organization (NGO) which promoted abortions regardless of the funding source for the abortion activities. The draft paper engendered considerable negative reaction, and it was revised before it was presented at the Mexico City Population Conference in July, 1984. The revised policy exempted foreign government organizations and agencies from the abortion restrictions. The restrictions were preserved for all NGOs. In December, 1984, the government began to implement the policy in earnest. US$17 million is support was withdrawn from the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF). IPPF operates worldwide and is a major source of contraceptive supplies in many Latin American and African countries. 6 years ago IPPF, at the request of US Agency for International Development (USAID) instituted accounting procedures to track all abortion related expenses. Less than .5% of the federation's funds are spent on abortion related activities. In January, 1985, funds previously appropriated for the UN Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA) were withheld because of UNFPA involvement in family planning in China. No US funds were used in the UNFPA China project, and UNFPA was not involved in abortion activities in China. Indeed, UNFPA policies prohibit involvement in abortion programs and in any coercive program. In March, 1985, all but US$10 million in appropriated funds were released to UNFPA as a result of congressional and foreign pressure. Steps to restrict the activities of national and local level NGOs are also being taken. The administration is planning to impose contract restriction on all USAID grant agreements. The restriction will forbid all foreign NGOs from promoting abortion regardless of the source of the funding for abortion activities. Preliminary wording of the contract clause indicates that the restrictions will apply to all abortions except those undertaken to save the life of the mother and that the NGOs will have to allow US inspection of all their books. These restrictions cannot be applied to USAID contracts awarded to NGOs in the US because these restrictions would be illegal in the US; however, US NGOs will be required to impose these restriction on any overseas subgrantees. These restrictions will force USAID to increase funding for the generally less effective programs which are operated by foreign governments. Worldwide negative consequences of the new US policies will include increases in unwanted pregnancy, infant mortality, maternal mortality, and abortion.
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