WASHINGTON, DC – Friday, January 16, Democratic Women’s Caucus Servicewomen, Women Veterans, and Military Families Task Force Chair Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06), Reproductive Freedom Caucus (RFC) Co-Chair Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), RFC Co-Chair Diana DeGette (CO-01), RFC International Women’s Rights Task Force Chair Grace Meng (NY-06), and DWC Chair Emerita Lois Frankel (FL-22)  led 19 members of the Democratic Women’s Caucus and Reproductive Freedom Caucus in a letter opposing the United Nation’s proposal to merge the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and UN Women under the UN80 Initiative.

The Members warned UN Secretary-General António Guterres that merging UNFPA and UN Women would jeopardize decades of global progress to address the unmet need for contraception, end preventable maternal deaths, center rights-based approaches to health care, and advance gender equality. The merger also threatens to undermine their distinct mandates and operational roles. The letter calls on the UN to preserve the independence of each entity to ensure their missions remain fully effective and resourced. 

The Members emphasize their longstanding support for the unique missions of UNFPA and UN Women.

“As our legislative record can attest, we anticipate a future when we will once again work together with UNFPA to ensure a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe, and every young person’s potential is fulfilled. UN Women, founded in 2010, has a separate and powerful mandate: to champion global gender equality by delivering programs, policies, and standards that uphold women’s human rights and to ensure coherence and coordination across the UN system.”

Maintaining the independence of the two entities, the Members stressed, is essential to their missions and to achieving global development goals.

“By weakening UNFPA and UN women’s unique mandates, we are concerned that the world will be unable to meet the 2030 UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 5 on gender equality and Goal 3 on health, including universal access to sexual and reproductive health care and reducing maternal mortality. Safe, affordable reproductive and maternal health is a cornerstone of gender equity, but the broader work of empowering all women and girls globally extends well beyond UNFPA’s mandate and requires the independent role of UN Women.”

The Members concluded their letter by highlighting the importance of global leadership and coordination during a challenging political and funding environment.

“As countries cut their international spending, the world experiences the loss of USAID’s technical expertise, and policy changes globally harm communities’ ability to exercise their rights and get the care and information they want and need, this proposal risks further watering down the mandate, financing, and prioritization of sexual and reproductive health and rights. Additionally, this proposal would limit the scope and resources dedicated to the key work of UN Women including combatting gender-based violence, advancing economic and educational opportunities for women and girls, and promoting the participation of women in peacebuilding efforts.”

Read the full letter here.

In addition to letter leads Ayanna Pressley, Chrissy Houlahan, Dianna DeGette, Grace Meng, and Lois Frankel, the letter was signed by Hillary J. Scholten, Judy Chu, Deborah K. Ross, Gwen S. Moore, Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, Frederica S. Wilson, Laura Friedman, Adriano Espaillat, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Mark Pocan, Sylvia R. Garcia, Dina Titus, Rashida Tlaib, and Lizzie Fletcher.

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