WASHINGTON,
D.C – U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) and her colleagues today
joined Population Action International and the International Family Planning
Coalition to highlight the importance of international family planning
programs and the need to repeal the global gag rule.
“International
family planning is a matter of life and death. It improves the health
and well being of women, men, and children around the world and saves lives.
At a time when more than one woman dies each minute from a pregnancy-related
complication and complications of pregnancy and childbirth are the leading
cause of death and disability for women in developing countries between
the ages of 15 to 49, the United States has a responsibility to do more,
not less,” Schakowsky said.
She
added, “The first thing we must do is repeal the global gag rule which
has harmed women and families around the world. The global gag rule
is hypocritical; it is offensive, and it is wrong. Second, we must
increase our commitment and our funding for international family planning.”
“At
its highest level, the funding international family planning received amounted
to just over $2 per American, or less than a Starbucks latte. Increased
access to family planning services increases child survival rates, reduces
maternal death rates, and improves women's reproductive health overall.
Women’s health is a priority and we will not be an endgame bargaining chip--Not
this year,” Schakowsky concluded. |