Joe Guzzardi
November 5,  2002

On November 2, in a story titled “U.S. May Abandon Support of U.N. Population Accord” the New York Times reported that the Bush administration might withdraw its support of the Cairo accord.

The 1994 agreement aimed at stabilizing the world’s population at 9.8 billion by 2050. Other goals for participating nations were accessible health care and primary education, reducing maternal mortality and H.I.V./A.I.D.S. awareness. 

President George W. Bush objects to the terms “reproductive health services” and “reproductive rights.” That language is used to allow women to seek safe abortions in countries where the practice is legal.

But to Bush, the terms promote abortion. 

The threat to back out of the Cairo pact shows an ugly side of U.S. politics and President Bush.

The U.S. is bullying others to get its way. Despite the fact that 179 nations endorsed the Cairo accord, the U.S. insists that the offending terms be deleted or significantly edited. Secretary of State Colin Powell confirmed that the U.S. might withhold support if Bush doesn’t get his way.

And as for Bush, he was smart enough avoid stating his position on choice during the 2000 campaign but not sensitive enough to recognize that the world’s suffering cannot be alleviated without giving women a full range of choices—including legal abortion.

The abrupt announcement distressed delegations attending the Asian and Pacific Population Conference. Times reporter James Dao quoted the Dutch minister for development Agnes van Ardenne, “I think it is disappointing and incredible. Poverty reduction will not be successful without reproductive health and without women being able to make their own choices.”

Although most delegates felt betrayed by Bush’s decision, none could have been surprised. The administration has attempted to block U.N. programs grappling with population issues since Bush took office.

During a special session on children at the United Nations General Assembly in May, the Bush administration in alliance with the Vatican and some Muslim countries worked to omit any references to family planning in sex education classes for teenagers. The only permissible topic in such classes would be abstinence. 

In July, the administration withheld $34 billion from the U.N. Population Fund. The previously approved financial support was taken away because Bush contends that the U.N. supports abortions in China under the guise of family planning. China’s birth rate, it should be noted, is now among the lowest in the world at 1.82 children per woman.

For an interesting exercise in the importance of worldwide family planning, look at the population levels since 1970 of some of the countries whose residents are migrating to the U.S. in mass.

These poor undeveloped countries have seen their populations double over the last 30 years. And their fertility rates ensure that populations will continue to rise. Living conditions—already miserable—will only get worse.

Little wonder then that so many from these impoverished nations yearn to come to the U.S.

President Bush needs to see the broad picture on global population. Supporting the Cairo accord sends the message that Bush is aware that population increases create greater levels of poverty in the Third World. 

And over the long term, Bush’s endorsement of the Cairo accord might relieve some of the pressures on U.S. population –already growing at a rate higher than Bangladesh.