23 MARCH 2017
A proposal by the US Administration to severely cut funding to the United Nations would threaten international solutions to global challenges and put the futures of children at risk.
Plan International is urging the US government to reject proposed budget cuts that severely impede the United Nations’ and partner organisations’ ability to find solutions to global threats and challenges.
These threats and challenges, including inequality, extreme poverty, famine, drought, gender-based violence, disasters, disease, conflict and insecurity affect us all. Such complex, global challenges can only be addressed if countries work together and the United Nations is more important now than ever.
Dangerous funding cuts
The United States is the United Nations’ leading supporter, providing nearly a quarter of its total revenue. The new US Administration is proposing severe funding reductions, meaning dangerous cuts to the UN’s development, humanitarian and peacekeeping work.
Plan International’s partnership with the World Food Programme was vital in providing a lifeline to the thousands of people
Reducing funding for agencies such as Unicef, the United Nations Population Fund, the World Bank and the World Food Programme seriously undermines crucial, life-saving work.
The United States has been a staunch supporter of the UN’s Global Goals and the promise they represent for girls and women around the world. Signed by 193 nations, they address the core challenges around achieving gender equality, quality healthcare, and quality education. These proposed cuts present a serious threat to global progress made around these goals.
Step backwards from gender equality
Plan International has advocated for girls’ rights in alignment with the Global Goals, seeking to achieve gender equality and empower women and girls. The Global Goals are a positive step forward for the global community and a sign that the world is united in support of the most excluded. A cut in funding is a step backwards for the US and the world in achieving gender equality and eradicating poverty.
These cuts also come on the heels of the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres’ pledge to make 2017 a year for peace, and his commitment to promoting and achieving gender equality and parity at the UN. The US must maintain its leadership position in ensuring human rights for all and supporting a peaceful, equitable, prosperous planet.
We are calling on the United States to continue its commitment to the United Nations and, in turn, the global community.
UN agencies deliver for children
Our organisation has a strong history of partnering with UN agencies to significant effect. We partnered the World Food Programme to provide food and nutrition assistance in the areas affected by the Ebola outbreak during 2014 and 2015.
Francis Sala-Diakanda, Plan International Guinea’s Country Director, said, “Borders were closed and the movement of food was very difficult, so Plan International’s partnership with the World Food Programme was vital in providing a lifeline to the thousands of people directly and indirectly affected by Ebola.”
The project supported Guinea’s response to Ebola, specifically improving the resilience and food security for 192,502 vulnerable families in Guéckédou and Macenta over a period of 6 months.
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