On March 2, State Department officials and representatives from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) testified before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Their comments focused on U.S. foreign assistance programs and administration priorities in the FY2006 budget.
South Asia
Explaining that public democracy programs in South Asia are a “key part of the war on terrorism,” Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs Donald Camp said that the Bureaus of South Asian Affairs and Cultural and Economic Affairs and the Office of International Information Programs “are implementing both traditional and innovative outreach programs, targeting younger, non-elite audiences. Through these people-to-people programs we will continue to promote shared values on education and democratic reforms, regional conflict resolution, and strong civil societies.”
Mr. Camp stated that U.S. efforts to combat trafficking in persons “have been refocused and intensified to raise the performance of South Asian governments in accord with criteria in the Trafficking Victims Protection Act.” He also noted that administration officials “remain ever mindful of the plight of women throughout the region, and our programs across the board have integrated components to improve literacy, education, health, and economic and legal rights for women and girls.”
USAID Assistant Administrator for Asia and the Near East James Kunder added, “Over the last 10 years, the number of people trafficked has grown, and the average age has dropped. Profits from trafficking rank third only to drugs and guns, encouraging criminal syndicates to work closely with local trafficking networks. USAID will continue to work with vulnerable people in high-risk environments, but we will give added attention to children and youth, who are most at-risk.” Mr. Kunder also noted that USAID’s anti-trafficking program “has spawned policy reforms in India, Nepal and Sri Lanka. In Bangladesh, the government has made significant progress with USAID’s help, thereby removing the threat of Tier III sanctions.”
Afghanistan
Mr. Camp explained that the administration requested a total of $1.1 billion in FY2006 for Afghanistan, adding that funding in the Economic Support Fund would be used to strengthen public education programs, the Human Rights Commission, the Afghan Ministry of Women’s Affairs, and women’s resource centers throughout the country.
Mr. Kunder stated, “The most important development in the post-Taliban era occurred this past October with the completion of highly successful Presidential elections in which over 8 million people voted, with over 40 percent of voters being women. We are in a unique position to support this deserving population living on the front lines in the war on terror.” He also noted that the USAID programs in the country would improve basic health care for women and children.
During the question and answer session, Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) cited a Human Rights Watch report detailing attacks on girls’ schools and other forms of violence against women. She also expressed her concern that women would be too intimidated to vote in the parliamentary and regional elections later this year. Mr. Camp explained that there are still incidents of violence against women, particularly in the south and rural areas of the country where cultural tradition remains strong. He said that the United States was working with the Afghan Ministry of Women’s Affairs to address the problem. Sen. Boxer asked for a written breakdown of the budget for programs that are specifically geared towards women and girls. She urged the State Department to do more in the region, pointing out that it would “send a message” to other countries, such as Saudi Arabia, where women are not allowed to vote or to drive a car.
Bangladesh
Programs to promote sustainable development in Bangladesh would “continue to improve basic education, foster scientific cooperation, assist economic growth and trade, combat trafficking in persons and increase health services for women and children,” stated Mr. Camp.
Mr. Kunder said that USAID programs in the region would help reduce high fertility rates, improve family health, strengthen small businesses, and improve the quality of the education system.
India
Explaining that the U.S. foreign policy goals in India aim to improve economic stability and reduce poverty, Mr. Camp said that State Department programs would “promote better access to education, justice, and services by women and vulnerable groups,” adding, “Our health programs support the prevention of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and other diseases, and increased child survival issues also addressed through a bilateral Global Issues Forum whose concerns range from trafficking in persons and human rights abuses to environment, science and health.”
Nepal
Mr. Camp explained that Nepal “has some of the world’s lowest social indicators,” adding, “More than half of our development assistance has been earmarked for health and family planning.”
Pakistan
USAID programs in Pakistan would concentrate on “improving the quality of education, increasing reproductive health and health care services for women and children, building democratic institutions, and increasing rural incomes and employment,” Mr. Kunder stated, adding, “These objectives not only address Pakistan’s fundamental social and economic challenges, but also exemplify the long-term commitments needed to establish the United States as a reliable partner and ally to this strategically important nation.”
Near East Asia
Mr. Kunder explained that the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) focuses on economic, political, and education reform, and women’s empowerment, adding, “Some USAID-administered activities in the political reform arena include the development of campaign training schools for women candidates in the region, and a regional rule-of-law program focused on judicial independence, procedure, and training for legal professionals.”
Africa
Highlighting challenges in sub-Saharan Africa, USAID Assistant Administrator for Africa Lloyd Pierson explained that it remains the poorest region in the world with 50 percent of the population living on less than $1 per day. “Income and gender inequality are also widespread,” he stated, adding, “Africa still lags far behind other developing regions in educational attainment, particularly in rural areas and for girls.” Mr. Pierson said that USAID programs would focus on “supporting economic growth and agriculture, improving governance, mitigating conflict, improving education (particularly basic education for girls), preserving the diversity of the continent’s resources, and fighting disease.” Pointing out that 43 percent of girls in the region are not enrolled in primary school, he indicated that the Education Initiative “would provide 250,000 scholarships for girls, 4.5 million much-needed textbooks and training for 420,000 teachers over a five-year period.”
With regard to health care in the region, Mr. Pierson stated, “Though the majority of women indicate the desire for fewer children, contraceptive prevalence rates remain under 20 percent in all but five countries and above 50 percent only in Zimbabwe and South Africa. Dramatic increases in contraceptive prevalence rates in Botswana and Malawi over the past 15 years, however, offer proof that reproductive health programs, such as those supported by USAID, can indeed promote behavioral change. In FY2006, USAID proposes…$101 million to continue its efforts to support a range of family planning programs, including public education, advocacy, and outreach through traditional and community structures, community-based distribution of contraceptives, and encouragement of child spacing programs.” Mr. Pierson also noted that of the 28 million people with HIV/AIDS in South Africa, 80 percent are of reproductive age and two-thirds are female.
East Asia and Pacific
Acting Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Evans Revere stressed the impact of health on the stability and prosperity in the region, stating, “Of the 42 million people living with HIV/AIDS worldwide, an estimated 7.4 million are in Asia and the Pacific more than in any region outside of sub-Saharan Africa. One example of our efforts to help stem the growing AIDS epidemic in Asia was the President’s designation of Vietnam as the 15th focus country in his emergency plan for AIDS relief.”
Addressing the issue of human rights, Mr. Revere said that State Department officials “work to raise the awareness of the severity of North Korea’s human rights abuses and humanitarian issues with the international community. In addition, when possible, U.S. officials raise these concerns directly with the North Korean regime. We are working to implement the North Korean Human Rights Act of 2004, which was enacted by Congress in response to serious concerns over North Korea’s human rights record and the ongoing humanitarian crisis faced by the North Korean people. We will also continue to press other nations such as China and Vietnam for improvements in human rights and rule of law.”
Europe and Eurasia
USAID Assistant Administrator for Europe and Eurasia (E&E) Kent Hill highlighted agency achievements in the region, including:
Addressing social problems in the region, Mr. Hill stated, “The difference between the Southeastern European and Eurasian sub-regions in health indicators demonstrates an especially alarming pattern of decline…Life expectancy is rising in Southeastern Europe and falling in Eurasia. Based on data for 2002 the latest available, the largest gender differences in life expectancy worldwide also are found in Eurasian countries. Russian females with a life expectancy of 72, for example, live 13 years longer than Russian males (59 years). In contrast, the spread is 6 years in Western Europe and 7 years in European Northern Tier countries. In sum, while in 2002 life expectancies averaged between 72 and 74 years in Southeastern Europe, they stood between 65 and 69 years in Eurasia. The rapid spread of infectious diseases combined with lifestyle behaviors and resultant diseases are contributing greatly to the health crisis in Eurasia.”
Mr. Hill also noted that “high abortion rates and low contraceptive rates throughout the region require continued attention to reproductive health in most E&E countries. E&E will focus on child survival and maternal health interventions in countries of greatest need. The Caucasus countries and the CARs [Central Asian Republics] have the highest under-five mortality rates in the transition region. Almost all our recipients are encountering difficulties with infectious diseases, including HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis (TB), and HIV/AIDS and TB funds will be targeted in those countries where infection rates for these diseases are highest, most notably Russia, Ukraine, and Central Asia.”
Explaining that the trafficking in persons (TIP) is a major issue in the region, Mr. Hill said that the United States “considers human trafficking to be a multi-dimensional threat. It deprives people of their human rights and freedom; it is a global health risk; and it fuels growth of organized crime,” adding, “Some of our field Missions already address TIP through activities which strengthen local government, promote SME [small and medium scale enterprise] development, support advocacy groups, utilize media to sensitize potential victims and populations, emphasize health-related needs of victims, and fortify the rule of law.” He added that USAID anti-trafficking programs focus on the three “Ps” or prevention, protection, and prosecution. In addition, USAID will be adding the three “Rs” to its programs, which stand for rescue, removal, and reintegration of victims.
