United States president Donald Trump on Tuesday ordered to pull out US funds for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). This expected move came after his commitment to halt the nation's ties to pro-abortion efforts, which is said to affect women and children from at least 155 countries.
Reports said the United States is a generous donor to UNFPA and is in fact the fourth-largest contributor in 2015, Time noted. Under the liberal then-president Barack Obama, the organization received $979 million in aid of UNFPA's family planning-oriented advocacies.
Trump's administration withdrew the donations because UNFPA allegedly support China's forced abortion practices. However, the organization denied their participation in the country's population-controlling policy.
The #MarchForLife is so important. To all of you marching --- you have my full support!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 27, 2017
"This determination was made based on the fact that China's family planning policies still involve the use of coercive abortion and involuntary sterilization, and UNFPA partners on family planning activities with the Chinese government agency responsible for these coercive policies," the state department said in a statement to which UNFPA responded to as "erroneous."
In defense, the organization cleared the allegation and stated that their programs recognize everyone's rights and support couples' free will and decision. UNFPA added that their advocacies are "free of coercion or discrimination."
With the United States' fund pull-out, what does it exactly mean for the 155 affected countries? As per BBC, UNFPA's programs may be in peril for inadequate financial sustenance.
The organization's advocacies also focus on educating and giving access to women and young children on sexual and reproductive rights, maternal health and control unwanted pregnancies. UNFPA has been aiding the "most fragile" Asian nations like Syria, Iran, Iraq and African countries like Somalia, South Sudan and Yemen.
The move of Trump's administration was not a new thing for UNFPA. During the governance of past Republican presidents like Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush and George H. Bush, funding for the population organization was also reduced as it is often a favorite target of the conservative party.
This year, $29 million is reported to be withdrawn by the Trump administration. Are you for or against President Donald Trump's move? Let us know your thoughts below!
