Statement by the Secretary-General – on the US announcement on the restoration of funding for the UN Population Fund
I welcome the announcement of the Biden-Harris Administration to restore funding to the UN Population Fund (UNFPA). The decision will transform and save women’s and girls’ lives across the world, from the most pressing humanitarian emergencies to the most remote and hard-to-reach communities, and everywhere in between.
I further welcome President Biden’s announcement rescinding the Mexico City Policy. This Policy has led to the defunding not only of reproductive health services globally but also in recent years to broader health services, an issue which in the midst of the current pandemic has been shown to be central to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Together, these decisions also send a powerful message to women and girls around the world that their rights matter.
New York, 28 January 2021