MARY BANOTTI, MEP,
Madam, - Your report of December 4th on the state of the world's population is encouraging news.
As a UNFPA Goodwill Ambassador I have had the honour to see many of the heartening and encouraging projects funded by UNFPA. I have visited wretched, impoverished villages where the only assistance available for mothers giving birth are traditional birth attendants, who are equipped solely with a scissors and a measuring stick so that very young mothers, who are likely to have difficulties, can (sometimes) be referred to a hospital, often with no transport. Each mother is told to bring her own razor blade to cut the umbilical cord.
I have visited refugee camps on the Afghanistan/Pakistan borders - again UNFPA was protecting mothers and babies and assisting with education and information for families in the poorest areas in the world.
We are threatened by a campaign initiated in the US by a viciously dishonest right-wing organisation alleging involvement with abortion and the one-child policy in China. This allegation has been rejected by groups from the Westminster Parliament and the US which have gone to China specifically to inform themselves on these issues. The UNFPA does not advocate or provide abortion, but it does provide help for the millions of women who die and whose lives are at risk from inadequate medical care following child birth, rape, unsafe septic abortions and underage pregnancy.
I am pleased that Ireland supports the work of UNFPA and that Mr Tom Kitt and the Taoiseach have again resisted these blackmailing groups and committed resources to this vital work. - Yours, etc.,
MARY BANOTTI, MEP, European Parliament, Dublin 2.