|
 One of the most effective ways to address population growth and work to achieve larger global sustainable development goals is to increase access to voluntary family planning programs and services - around the world and in the U.S. When women and men can choose the size and spacing of their families, they tend to have smaller, healthier families. This has a ripple effect that benefits communities socially, economically, and environmentally.
Family Planning Around the World
Family Planning in the US
Take Action!
Family Planning Around the World
 In 1994, 179 nations- including the U.S.- met in Cairo, Egypt, at the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD). At this meeting, a worldwide consensus was reached to invest in and strive for goals such as universal access to family planning, reproductive health services, and education for women and girls. In line with these international goals, known as the "Cairo Consensus", the Sierra Club supports the highest levels of funding without restrictions for voluntary international family planning programs, including the United States Agency for International Development's (USAID) Family Planning Programs and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
- United States Agency for International Development (USAID) works in over 60 countries to provide economic, development and humanitarian assistance around the world in support of the foreign policy goals of the United States. USAID works to support global health and is one of the main contributors to family planning and reproductive health services worldwide. USAID also implements integrated Population, Health and Environment (PHE) Projects in the field, which acknowledge and address the complex connections between humans, their health, and their environment. Find out more about how the Sierra Club has conducted international study tours since 2003 to visit and learn from integrated PHE projects in the field.
- On his second day in office, January 2, 2001, President Bush reinstated the undemocratic and un-American Global Gag Rule, which disqualifies overseas family planning organizations from receiving U.S. family planning funds if they, with their own money, lobby to change abortion laws or provide legal abortion services in their countries.
- United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) works in over 140 countries to ensure that women have access to voluntary family planning, economic opportunities, and education - all of which contribute to increased opportunities for women to choose the size and spacing of their families. Beginning in 2002, President Bush put a temporary hold on U.S. contributions to UNFPA, citing concerns over China's family planning programs. Now, five years later, UNFPA continues to receive zero funding from the U.S. One year's withheld funding of $34 million could prevent as many as 2 million unwanted pregnancies and 4,700 maternal deaths in developing countries. (1)
Why Environmentalists Care About Family Planning Around the World Factsheet [PDF]
Family Planning in the US
 The Sierra Club advocates for policies and programs that effectively reduce the rate of teenage pregnancy in the U.S., which is the highest of all developed countries. Research shows that comprehensive sex education programs discussing both abstinence AND contraception help to reduce teen pregnancy rates, yet NO federal dollars are invested in these programs. Instead, funding has poured into abstinence-only-until-marriage curricula that is not scientifically accurate and spreads false, misleading information about contraceptives.
While abstinence-only programs receive growing federal support, Title X ("ten"), the National Family Planning Program established in 1970 that provides high quality reproductive healthcare and contraceptive services to American women, has been under-funded for many years. It is the only federal program dedicated solely to funding family planning services for people who do not have health insurance or cannot afford reproductive healthcare and contraceptives.
Why Environmentalists Care About Family Planning in the U.S. Factsheet [PDF]
To improve the health of families and ensure a more sustainable environmental future, our policies and funding must support voluntary family planning programs and comprehensive sex education programs around the world and in the U.S.
Family Planning Around the World
 The Focus on Family Health Worldwide Act would authorize increased funds for family planning programs implemented by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
The bill also prioritizes funding to countries with crucial family planning and maternal and child health needs, where contraceptive shortages are expected, and to areas where high population growth rates and biological diversity intersect.
 The Global Democracy Promotion Act is an attempt to overturn the global gag rule. If passed, this legislation would help ensure that women and families around the world have access to crucial family planning education and services that enable them to choose the size and spacing of their families, ultimately
Family Planning in the US
 The The REAL (Responsible Education About Life) Act would set up the first-ever federal program to provide responsible, comprehensive sex education to young people. This education would include science-based, medically accurate, and age appropriate public health information, and would supply young people with the tools to make informed decisions about their lives.
 The Prevention First Act would improve the health of women, communities, and the environment by increasing access to a full range of safe, effective, affordable contraceptives. It would do this through Title X, as well as increased access to emergency contraception (EC-the morning-after pill), comprehensive sex education, and other family planning services.
- "Statement on U.S. Funding Decision," United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). 22 July 2002.
Up to Top
HOME |
Email Signup |
About Us |
Contact Us |
Terms of Use |
© 2008 Sierra Club
|
