Last week, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved the FY2003 foreign operations spending bill (S. 2779) (see The Source, 719/02). The following is a summary of committee report language that impacts women and children worldwide.
The bill would provide an increase from $1.4 billion to $1.78 billion in FY2003 for the Child Survival and Health Programs Fund, which funds activities and programs aimed at reducing child mortality and morbidity. Of that amount, $500 million, a $65 million increase, would be allocated for HIV/AIDS assistance. The committee report states that the committee “believes that the first priority for these funds should be to support HIV/AIDS prevention programs, to reduce the number of new infections and save lives.”
The committee report also states that not less than $18 million should be provided for the development of microbicides, a $3 million increase over last year. “The committee recognizes the urgent public health need to develop new HIV prevention options and the emerging scientific opportunities in the field.”
International family planning activities would be funded at $450 million under the Senate bill, a $4 million increase over last year. The committee report notes that the funding level is equal to the amount provided in 1995. Beginning in 1996, funding for international family planning programs was dramatically cut. “The committee believes that the United States should provide more support for family planning/reproductive health in developing countries, where 95 percent of new births will occur.”
The committee also provided $50 million for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). Congress appropriated $34 million for UNFPA in FY2002; however, the administration recently announced that it will not release the funding to the organization because of its activities in China. In discussing the legislative history of UNFPA funding, the report states, “UNFPA’s programs in China have focused on improving women’s reproductive health and access to modern contraceptives to reduce the incidence of abortion, as well as on activities to reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS.”
The Senate bill also would provide $75 million for maternal health activities, including activities aimed at reducing pregnancy-related deaths.
The Office of Women in Development at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) would be level-funded at $15 million. Report language urges USAID to strengthen the office. “The office continues to play a key role in integrating gender perspectives into USAID’s programs and policies, and providing technical support, research and implementation of initiatives focused on women’s economic status and legal rights, and girls’ education.”
Additionally, the committee recommends that $600,000 be appropriated for Women’s Campaign International, which works to enhance the status of women.
Recognizing the “positive impact that microcredit programs have on the lives of women around the world,” the committee recommends that $175 million be appropriated for microcredit programs.
The committee report also includes language regarding women in Afghanistan. Expressing support for the Afghan Ministry of Women’s Affairs, the committee provided $5 million “to enable the Ministry to establish multi-service women’s centers throughout Afghanistan, and to initiate programs to improve girl’s and women’s education and health, protect their legal rights, and expand their economic opportunities.”
Violence against women in Russia also is addressed with report language urging USAID to work with the Russian government to strengthen local capacity to respond to domestic violence.
Activities aimed at preventing trafficking in persons would be level-funded at $20 million. “The committee remains strongly committed to assisting women and children who are the most innocent victims of this gross human rights violation.”
