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House Democrats Seek Funding for UN Agency Involved in Coercive Abortions

UN Population Fund to receive financial support despite involvement in Chinese One Child Policy

By Matthew Cullinan Hoffman

WASHINGTON, July 17, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) - House Democrats are seeking to restore funding to a United Nations agency involved in China's coercive one child policy, which forces abortions and sterilizations on women who violate its strictures, LifeSiteNews has learned.

The House State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Subcommittee yesterday approved a measure that would allow the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) to receive over $60 million from the federal government, despite documented violations of US prohibitions on assisting coercive population control programs. 

The UNFPA assists and even shares office space with Chinese population control officials, who allegedly kill unborn and newborn children, sterilize women against their will, imprison families as hostages when a pregnant mother evades arrest, destroy family property, and impose massive fines as punishments for violations of the policy.

The organization has also given its highest award to Qian Xinzhong, chief of China's national population control program.

The measure approved yesterday would allow US funding to flow to the UNFPA outside of China, for a list of specific purposes that includes "safe motherhood initiatives, reproductive health services, and fistula care." However, critics contend that the measure would allow the agency to shift funds from the supported programs to China, effectively aiding China's coercive programs.

Such funds have been unavailable to the UNFPA since 2002, after the Bush administration, with the help of the Population Research Institute, documented the agency's involvement with coercive abortion and sterilization programs.

Rep. Dave Weldon is denouncing the recent measure.  "For years we have sought to protect women and children in China because it was morally wrong to support China's forced abortion program," he said. "Now the Democrat Majority in the House has voted to change existing law and send millions of dollars to UNFPA and turn a blind eye to the egregious human rights violations that UNFPA promotes in China. This is a despicable policy change."

In addition, House Democrats are seeking 30% funding increases for "family planning" programs that promote contraceptives worldwide, and which is likely to make $600 million available for abortion providers and referrers if a pro-abortion candidate wins the presidential election in the fall.

Related LifeSiteNews Coverage:

UNPFA Loses $235 Million Due to Pro-Life Group's Efforts
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/jul/08070206.html

UNFPA Population Awards Honor Abortion Advocates
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/may/08052910.html

UNFPA Pitches Abortion as a Means to Reduce Child Poverty
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2005/jul/05070404.html

Bush Administration Representative Explains Why UNFPA Will be Denied US Funds
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2004/dec/041216a.html

UNFPA Supports Coercive Family Planning-Including Forced Abortion-in China
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2001/oct/011005c.html

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