Planned Parenthood Applauds Secretary Clinton for Renewing U.S. Commitment to International Reproductive Health

Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) applauds Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton for her remarks today renewing the U.S. commitment to health and development goals for women and girls around the world, including increasing access to quality reproductive health care. These goals, dating back to 1994, include universal access to education, especially for girls; reductions in infant, child and maternal mortality; and universal access to reproductive health.

“Secretary Clinton is a global leader committed to advancing the reproductive health and rights of women and girls worldwide,” said PPFA President Cecile Richards. “She understands the direct link between supporting women and girls and strengthening families, communities and societies. Her leadership promises to move the global community closer to ensuring that all women and girls in every country have the reproductive health care they need to live healthy, productive lives. We look forward to working with Secretary Clinton and our partners around the world to improve women’s lives.”

The United States and 178 other nations reached consensus on actions needed to meet health development goals during the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) in Cairo, as well as through related UN agreements, including the Millennium Development Goals. 

Planned Parenthood has been working oversees for nearly 40 years and has seen firsthand the terrible consequences, including unnecessary maternal deaths, arising from inadequate access to reproductive health care. Last year alone, PPFA provided local partners with technical assistance and grants totaling nearly $2.5 million. As a result 67,000 women received contraceptives, more than 10,000 women received safe abortion or post-abortion care, 74,000 adolescents received sexual and reproductive health care and nearly 535,000 people received sexual and reproductive health education.

Planned Parenthood Federation of America is the nation's leading sexual and reproductive health care provider and advocate. We believe that everyone has the right to choose when or whether to have a child, and that every child should be wanted and loved. Planned Parenthood affiliates operate 850 health centers nationwide, providing medical services and sexuality education for millions of women, men, and teenagers each year. We also work with allies worldwide to ensure that all women and men have the right and the means to meet their sexual and reproductive health care needs.