Updates

Belgium increases support for women’s and girls’ rights

11 Jul 2017

A mobile clinic in Benin is expanding access to family planning and other reproductive health services. Belgium is increasing its support to UNFPA's activities in Benin and elsewhere. © Vincent Tremeau for UNFPA

The government of Belgium has generously pledged to increase its regular core contribution of €7 million by €2 million over the next four years. Belgium has also pledged an additional €2 million to the UNFPA Supplies programme, a mechanism that provides contraceptives and other reproductive health commodities in high-need countries.

In 2016, Belgium was among top donor countries for contributions to UNFPA, and in 2017, Belgium contributed an additional €1.5 million to support UNFPA’s activities in Benin, and €2 million to support UNFPA’s programmes in Mali.  Belgium’s most recent contribution reaffirms their longstanding commitment and leadership in advocating for the rights of women and girls globally.

At the beginning of 2017, Belgium took a lead role at the She Decides conference, hosting representatives of 50 governments, international organizations and civil society leaders in Brussels. She Decides is a truly cross-regional alliance for mobilizing political support and domestic resources for sexual and reproductive health in programme countries.

Alexander De Croo, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Development Cooperation, Digital Agenda, Telecom and Postal Services of Belgium and host of the She Decides conference, stated, “What brings us together is a desire to take action in favour of women and girls. If we are serious about the main objective of the Sustainable Development Goals, we know it will not happen without equality for women and girls. We want every pregnancy to be wanted and every delivery to be safe.”

UNFPA is grateful for Belgium’s active engagement and enduring collaboration, which has helped ensure the rights, health, empowerment and well-being of women and young people through UNFPA programmes.
 

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