Colin Powell, "we have continuously called on China to end its program of coercive abortion"of coercive abortion"

Jul 17 2004

Secretary of State Colin L. Powell sent a report to Congress July 16 on China's birth limitation policy and the United Nations Population Fund's assistance to China.

By separate letter, the Secretary also communicated to Congress his finding that the Kemp-Kasten Amendment is applicable again for 2004 to funding for the United Nations Population Fund. This decision means that this organization will not receive the $34 million earmarked for its activities by Congress for the current fiscal year.

The Secretary first determined that Kemp-Kasten Amendment restrictions applied to the UN Population Fund in 2002. Since that time, we have continuously called on China to end its program of coercive abortion. We also have repeatedly urged China and the UN Population Fund to restructure the organization's programs in a way that would allow the United States to provide funding. We will continue these consultations. However, since no key changes have taken place, these restrictions are being applied again.

The United States recognizes that the UN Population Fund intends to promote a transition to a voluntary family planning program in China. We are prepared to consider funding the UN Population Fund in the future if its program in China is restructured in a way consistent with U.S. law, or if China ends its program of coercive abortion.

The United States remains firmly committed to women's reproductive health, as well as to other health programs, including the President's initiative on HIV/AIDS. The U.S. continues to be the world's largest donor of bilateral assistance to help improve the health of women and children. We provide over $1.8 billion this year toward this goal through the USAID Child Survival and Health Programs Fund, $429 million of which is for reproductive health, including family planning.