For the fourth continuous year, the Bush administration of the USA has withheld contributions to the UNFPA, saying that UNFPA support for China's population program indirectly facilitates coercive abortion. USA law bans the use of USA aid to finance or support abortions overseas.

The decision was announced just one day after President Bush made a speech to the UN General Assembly (14th to 16th September 2005) in which he stressed his administration's support for the Millennium Development Goals, which include drastically reducing maternal mortality.

Thoraya Obaid, Executive Director, UNFPA called the decision regrettable and rejected the State Department's rationale.

"This decision is disheartening because it contradicts clear evidence that UNFPA works hard to end coercion by proving the efficacy and superiority of the voluntary approach to family planning over any other alternative," she said.

Bush's decision brings to US$136 million the amount that Congress has set aside for UNFPA but that Bush has refused to pass along since 2001.

UNFPA has estimated that one year's U.S. contribution could prevent as many as two million unwanted pregnancies and 4,700 maternal deaths in developing countries.