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Advocacy Blog
Friday, October 03, 2008
U.S. Government Stops International Charity's Family Planning Work
The State Department and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) told six African governments to stop giving contraceptives donated by the United States to the Marie Stopes International family planning organization for distribution to their populations. According to the Associated Press, this was done because of the charity's work in China.
"The move affects Ghana, Malawi, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe and follows a determination by USAID that the organization is a major player in a U.N. program in China that the administration says promotes coerced abortion and sterilization. [. . .] Marie Stopes International, one of the world's largest family planning organizations, complained bitterly about the step, which it said was 'purely political' and 'dangerous' because it could result in more abortions, maternal deaths and health problems for poor African women and girls."
Posted by Amanda Adams
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