Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 9 Apr 2003

Vol. 565 No. 1

Written Answers. - Human Rights Abuses.

Pádraic McCormack

Question:

167 Mr. McCormack asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs following the human rights abuses in China, Peru and Mexico, if the Government will now immediately cease funding to the United Nations Fund for Population Activities, UNFPA; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10534/03]

Denis Naughten

Question:

170 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will review the Government funding for UNFPA in view of allegations that it is involved in coercive abortion-sterilisation in China, Peru and Mexico; if he has investigated these allegations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10132/03]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Cowen)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 167 and 170 together.

The UN Fund for Population Activities, UNFPA, which is supported by 119 countries, is the largest multilateral source of assistance on population issues for developing countries. The needs in this area are acute: it is estimated that some 0.5 million women in the developing world die each year due to pregnancy-related causes and that 350 million women have no access to any form of contraception.

One of UNFPA's key tasks is to contribute to the implementation of the millennium development goal of reducing the maternal mortality rate by 75% by 2015. UNFPA's programmes also have a major focus on the fight against HIV-AIDS, one of the biggest challenges facing developing countries and an overarching priority of Ireland's development assistance. In 2003, Ireland Aid has committed €2.539 million to support UNFPA's core resources which are focused primarily on the world's poorest countries.

UNFPA is committed by its mandates to the principles of voluntarism and all of its programmes of assistance throughout the world are based on the principles of freedom of choice and informed consent. Its guiding policy, as laid down by its Governing Council in 1985, stipulates that UNFPA is "not to provide assistance for abortions, abortion services and abortion-related equipment and supplies as a method of family planning".

In recent years, there have been a number of allegations that UNFPA has supported coercive family planning programmes and-or abortion. Many of these allegations have been made by the Population Research Institute, a private body based in the United States. In response to representations from Ireland, the fund has categorically denied all of these allegations and insisted that it continues to abide by its mandate. In the case of China, a number of independent investigations have taken place into allegation made against UNFPA. All of these investigations have confirmed that UNFPA does not support China's one-child policy and is making an important contribution to encouraging the Chinese authorities away from coercive family planning measures.

Ireland served a three year term on the executive board on UNFPA from 1998-2000 and was closely involved in discussions on UNFPA's policies and programmes. We were impressed by the quality of UNFPA's development activities, the commitment of its staff and the support it provides to some of the world's poorest countries. Ireland Aid continues to monitor UNFPA closely and attends all of the executive board meetings of the organisation. Over the past year, the Minister of State, Deputy Kitt, has had a number of meetings with Ms Thoraya Obaid, the executive director of the fund, to discuss our contribution and the fund's activities.

I am satisfied that UNFPA is playing an important role in supporting the efforts of developing countries to improve maternal health and welfare and to fight HIV/AIDS. It continues to abide by its mandate and does not promote abortion as a method of family planning. Ireland's funding of UNFPA is, therefore, fully warranted and helps the organisation provide much needed assistance to people living in extreme poverty.