Slashing the U.S. international family planning budget by almost $100 million dollars — another woman-killing measure pushed by our “pro-life” administration.
The cuts are stirring strong opposition from nonprofit groups and Democrats on the House and Senate appropriations subcommittees responsible for foreign aid. They say the reductions would mean more unintended pregnancies for the world’s poorest women, and more dangerous abortions in countries where the procedure is outlawed.
“It’s ironic that an administration outwardly committed to reducing the incidence of abortion would take away valuable tools for preventing unwanted pregnancies,” said Representative Nita M. Lowey, Democrat of New York.
Yup. And what’s the administration’s reaction?
Ed Fox, an assistant administrator at the United States Agency for International Development, said the budget cuts for family planning should be viewed in the broader context of large proposed increases for presidential initiatives to combat AIDS and malaria that will greatly benefit women.
That’s a good move. Position women’s rights activists against HIV/AIDS and malaria activists, and let them battle it out over the money. Except that the HIV/AIDS and malaria initiatives aren’t anywhere close to being put into place — they’re simply “proposed increases.”
I propose we give women, men and children abroad one day of the Pentagon’s budget — or one day of the cost of the Iraq war — and give millions of people access to reproductive healthcare, sexual health education, HIV/AIDS medications, and preventative tools like condoms. But I won’t hold my breath.
Filed under “crime” because it is one.