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A View from the United Church of Christ

The United Church of Christ, informed by decades of its General Synod statements supporting the full rights of women around the world*, has consistently joined other faith and secular organizations that have called for full funding for international family planning services.

Women must be able to access and utilize family planning services without fear of recrimination or violence. It has been demonstrated that if women receive such services, fewer unintended pregnancies occur, women’s reproductive health is improved, rates of female genital mutilation are reduced, and overall family health is enhanced. Women must also be able to determine how such services are best provided in any particular cultural setting.

Additionally, the United Church of Christ supports efforts to eliminate poverty, provide economic support programs for women, and increase opportunities for education for girls and women in recognition of the reality that raising the status of women in society results in better access and use of family planning information and methods and women’s health services. Many such programs are made possible through Common Global Ministries, a joint ministry of the UCC and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) conducted with global mission partners and churches around the world.

*Beijing Platform from the 4 th World Conference on Women, 1995; Beijing +15; the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights; Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women