Tánaiste announces additional funding of €700,000 for UNFPA
Press release
17 October 2018The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Simon Coveney T.D. today announced additional funding of €700,000 to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the United Nations agency with responsibility for sexual and reproductive health, at the launch of the Fund’s The State of World Population 2018 report.
The announcement brings Ireland’s total contribution to core funding for UNFPA to €3.5m in 2018.
Speaking at the launch of the report, the Tánaiste said:
“Ireland has a strong rights-based approach to development and gender equality. We recognise that access to quality maternal and reproductive health care, supporting safe motherhood and allowing women to control their own fertility, within national legislative contexts, is central to women’s empowerment and the health of nations.”
Announcing the further support from Ireland to UNFPA’s core funding for 2018, the Tánaiste said:
“We all know that these are not easy times for multilateralism, which is why it is vital that countries like Ireland - and others - adhere to their principles in supporting UN agencies like UNFPA in this way. Core funding allows organisations to set their priorities and plan according to need and is, I believe, critical to the on-the-ground delivery of results.
“Ireland is a strong supporter of UNFPA, with Irish contributions reaching €30 million since 2009.”
The Chair of the Oireachtas Interest Group on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, Ms. Jan O’Sullivan T.D., and UNFPA’s representative, Jacqueline Mahon, also spoke at the event. The annual report highlights global trends on population, as well as the state of current reproductive rights and choices available to women around the world.
ENDS
Press Office
17 October 2018
