Complications from pregnancy are the leading cause of death for young women ages 15 through 19 in low- and middle-income countries. Around the world, 200 million women wish to avoid or delay pregnancy but do not have access to modern methods of contraception. It is estimated that the unmet need for family planning among young women is twice that among adults.

Yesterday, International Women’s Day, was a day to commemorate the struggles women have faced for centuries in their quest for equal rights and to evaluate the challenges we now face as a global society in ensuring that women share equal opportunities to men. One of the essential facets to ensuring equal opportunities for women is securing their right to plan their families and futures. Family planning services allow women to decide if, when, and how often they wish to have children.  These services are imperative to creating a just and sustainable world.

Sign the petition to increase funding for U.S. international family planning assistance today! The new administration has performed well on sexual and reproductive health issues thus far. President Obama repealed the Mexico City Policy (or global gag rule) through executive order, removing restrictions on which organizations could be eligible for U.S. family planning assistance. He also recommitted the U.S. as a donor country to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). Domestically, he has also expressed support for comprehensive sex education.  But for the U.S. to become a true global leader in human rights and public health, we must not only put science and evidence back on the table, but also make U.S. foreign aid more effective. We must not only "do no harm," but also determine how to "do good." Just as was the case 20 years ago, each year, over half a million women die from pregnancy related complications, nearly all of which are preventable. Ninety-nine percent of maternal deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries However, family planning funding has decreased by forty percent in real terms since 1995. At the same time, the adolescent population has grown exponentially and is expected to increase over the next two decades. In his recent budget blueprint, President Obama calls for, “increasing investments in global health programs, including areas such as maternal and child health, family planning and other core health programs.” Congress must follow suit.

$1 billion in international family planning assistance is needed to address the unmet need for the country programs of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the U.S. fair share donation to UNFPA. Family planning programs reduce maternal and newborn mortality, unintended pregnancies, and the incidence of unsafe abortion. And, when integrated with HIV prevention, testing, treatment, and care, family planning augments the effectiveness of HIV and AIDS programs, as health service delivery is most effective when individuals can access a range of services in one location. Join me in calling on Congress to allocate at least $1 billion in U.S. international family planning assistance for fiscal year 2010. 

Sign the petition today!