EU family planning aid for poor countries falls

EU policymakers are neglecting family planning in their development aid, according to a new study.

The new research says the share of family planning aid in total OECD population assistance fell from 30 to 9 per cent between 2001 and 2004.

“This has left millions of people suffering unnecessarily from maternal and infant deaths, unintended pregnancies and unsafe abortions,” according to the study.

The report, produced by the German Foundation for World Population (DSW), an international development organisation, and parliament’s Forum on Population and Development, was published in Brussels on Tuesday.

At the launch of the study, Belgian Socialist MEP Anne Van Lancker said, “European governments proudly affirm their commitment to sexual and reproductive health and rights.

“So what is happening to the funds for family planning? Europe must do everything it can to stop poor women dying needlessly by supporting family planning and reproductive health programmes in developing countries."

The report, called ‘Euromapping’, scrutinises EU countries’ development aid for reproductive health.

It says the “drastic” cut in family planning comes at a time when the largest youth population ever enters child-bearing years.

It says that a shift towards increased funding for Aids prevention and treatment has come at the expense of other forms of assistance.

“Fighting the Aids pandemic is absolutely imperative but policymakers must not forget that family planning is key to poverty reduction,” said Karen Hoehn, DSW director of European affairs.

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