Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 29 Jan 2003

Vol. 560 No. 1

Written Answers. - UN Policy.

Denis Naughten

Ceist:

311 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has satisfied himself that UNFPA is not involved in the one child policy in China; if he will review the information currently available to him; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1495/03]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Cowen)

The Population Research Institute, PRI, a private US body, has repeatedly alleged that the UN Fund for Population Activities, UNFPA, has supported coercive policies on family planning in China, including the Chinese Government's one child policy. There have been a number of hearings in the US Congress on the basis of these reports.

UNFPA has categorically denied that it has facilitated the implementation of coercive family planning methods in China or anywhere else. It has invited a number of independent investigators to examine its Chinese operations to assess whether or not there was any justification for the allegations which PRI has made. Two independent investigations, one commissioned by UNFPA and the second undertaken by a number of British parliamentarians, came to the same conclusion that the UNFPA is not involved in supporting coercive family planning methods in China. Both investigations emphasised that UNFPA is promoting a voluntary approach and is working to encourage the Chinese authorities away from coercive measures.

The US Administration also carried out its own fact-finding mission to UNFPA's operations in China. This mission which reported in May 2002 also found no support for the allegations made by PRI. The report of the mission, addressed to Secretary of State Colin Powell, found "no evidence that UNFPA knowingly participated in the management of a programme of coercive abortion or involuntary sterilisation in China" and therefore recommended that "the $34 million which has been appropriated should be released to UNFPA."

In the event the US Administration did not accept the recommendation of its own fact-finding mission and decided to withhold its financial support from UNFPA. This decision was taken by the State Department which voiced concern that it was possible that some of UNFPA's activities – such as the funding of the purchase of computers – might unwittingly be used to support China's one child policy. UNFPA has denied this possibility and no investigation to date has found any evidence that this is the case.

Both UNFPA and the EU are engaged in a dialogue with the US on its decision to withhold its funding from UNFPA. At the EU Development Council in May 2002, EU member states reaffirmed the importance of the role of UNFPA in reaching the millennium development goals in the areas of infant, child and maternal mortality and restated the EU's firm commitment to continue to support the fund. The European Commission has allocated an additional €20 million to UNFPA.

In the context of the findings by various independent investigations and from our own bilateral contacts with the Fund, the Government accepts that UNFPA is abiding by its mandate in China. We are also satisfied that UNFPA is playing an important role, particularly in Africa, in helping some of the world's poorest countries to fight HIV-AIDS and to deal with the challenges of infant and maternal mortality. In 2003, Ireland Aid will contribute €2.539 million to the UNFPA in support of its work.