Women CEOs in US Speak out for Women's Health and Rights Globally Approximately Forty Women NGO Leaders Tell Congress to Keep Commitments to International Women’s Health Published on Mar 2, 2011 - 8:57:02 AM
WASHINGTON, March 2, 2011 - Approximately 40 women who lead development, health, and human rights organizations sent a letter to Congress today, urging senators to keep the United States' commitments to international women's health and rights amidst the current scrutiny of the foreign assistance budget. The letter, spearheaded by Washington, D.C.-based nongovernmental organizations the Center for Health and Gender Equity (CHANGE) and Centre for Development and Population Activities (CEDPA), marks the first time women NGO executives have united to support continued foreign assistance for women's health and rights abroad. The letter specifically calls for support of HIV and AIDS and reproductive health, which includes family planning and maternal health.
The letter notes that, "The House of Representatives has proposed cuts to the foreign assistance budget for the remainder of FY11 that would result in serious setbacks to the advancement of global women's health and rights, and in turn, to global economic development overall. As women leading organizations that promote economic development, health, and human rights globally, we are writing to ask for your commitment to protect and prioritize foreign assistance dollars that support the well-being, rights, and empowerment of women and girls."
The letter is critical as Congress debates a budget extension for the remainder of FY 2011 and considers funding for FY 2012, noted Serra Sippel, president of CHANGE.
"Foreign assistance has already been singled out by the House of Representatives as a target for cuts," Sippel said. "Now we are asking senators to consider the enormous amount of good the United States has been able to accomplish with such a small portion of the budget, and to remember that it sets this nation apart. We're also asking each member to approach women's global health holistically and not pit funding streams for family planning, maternal health, and HIV and AIDS against each other. Right now, members have the opportunity to define their service in the 112th Congress by keeping women and girls healthy and alive through continued support and funding."
In addition to Sippel and Carol Peasley of CEDPA, signatories include Cecile Richards of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Helene Gayle of CARE USA, Marjorie J. Hill of Gay Men's Health Crisis, Pamela Barnes of EngenderHealth, Ruth Messinger of American Jewish World Service, Nancy Northup of the Center for Reproductive Rights, Sarah Kambou of the International Center for Research on Women, Marcia Greenberger of the National Women's Law Center, and Theresa Shaver of the White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood.
The Center for Health and Gender Equity (CHANGE) is a U.S.-based non-governmental organization that seeks to ensure that U.S. foreign policies and programs promote sexual and reproductive health and rights through effective, evidence-based approaches to prevention and treatment of critical reproductive and sexual health concerns, and through increased funding for critical international programs and institutions: www.genderhealth.org
Complete List of Signatories
Nancy A. Aossey
President and CEO, International Medical Corps
Radhika Balakrishnan
Executive Director, Center for Women's Global Leadership
Pamela W. Barnes
President and CEO, EngenderHealth
Carmen Barroso
Regional Director, IPPF/Western Hemisphere Region
Kelly Blanchard
President, Ibis Reproductive Health
Paula Boland
Executive Director, United Nations Association of the National Capital Area
Kathy Bonk
Executive Director, Communications Consortium Media Center (CCMC)
Susan Davis
President and CEO, BRAC USA
Elizabeth Clark
Executive Director, National Association of Social Workers
Diana DuBois
Executive Director, WellShare International
Suzanne Ehlers
President and CEO, Population Action International
Helene D. Gayle
President and CEO, CARE USA
Sharon Gelman
Executive Director, Artists for a New South Africa
Adrienne Germain
President, International Women's Health Coalition
Ronni Goldfarb
President and CEO, Equal Access International
Marcia Greenberger
President, National Women's Law Center
Rev. Debra W. Haffner
Executive Director, Religious Institute
Catherine Hanssens
Executive Director, Center for HIV Law and Policy
Susan W. Hayes
President and CEO, ReSurge International
Marjorie J. Hill
Chief Executive Officer, Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC)
Eleanor Hinton Hoytt
President and CEO, Black Women's Health Imperative
Avis Jones-DeWeever
Executive Director, National Council of Negro Women
Sarah Degnan Kambou
President, International Center for Research on Women (ICRW)
Melanie Macdonald
President and CEO, World Neighbors
Elizabeth Maguire
President and CEO, Ipas
Ruth Messinger
President, American Jewish World Service
