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In Honor of World Population Day, Reaffirm the Right to Family Planning
Ask the 2008 presidential candidates to support the right to family planning! As you know, President Bush recently submitted a $3.1 trillion budget request to Congress for 2009. Unfortunately the amount he allocated for family planning within that budget, $470m, falls drastically short of the need. The allocation requested for international affairs in 2009 is a mere 1.27% of the $3.1 trillion total, and within that only 16% is for global health, of which 5% is for family planning. Ask the candidates to call for a total investment of $1 billion for voluntary family planning programs and services for 2009. Act now to make your voice heard!
Dear [ Decision Maker ] , I hope you will do your part to improve the health and rights of women around the world. As a presidential candidate, please speak out about the urgent need to increase current federal funding for international family planning to $1 billion for 2009. The allocation for international family planning that President Bush submitted in the FY2009 budget request is minuscule when compared to the unmet needs of women in developing countries. More than 200 million women around the world have no access to modern means of contraception. Each year, more than 500,000 women around the world die during pregnancy and childbirth. One in five women seeks an abortion because she lacks access to modern contraceptive methods. Approximately 68,000 women die each year as a result of unsafe abortions; and 5.3 million women are injured. Please help end this tragedy. $1 billion for family planning programs will have a significant impact in developing countries, where improved access to education, information, and health care will save millions of lives. Protect the wellbeing of women around the world by supporting the right to family planning. Speak out about the need to increase current funding for international family planning to $1 billion for 2009. Thank you for your vital support.
Sincerely, |
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