The early good news coming out of the United States in support of global women’s rights keeps getting better. Not only has the Obama Administration rescinded the exceedingly counter-productive “Global Gag Rule,” but the new Congress has stepped up funding for the UN Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM).
As a result of the recent budget passed by the United States Congress, UNIFEM will receive much appreciated increased funding for 2009. The US contribution to UNIFEM core resources will amount to US$4,500,000, an increase of nearly one million from last year. Also benefitting is the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women, administered by UNIFEM, which will receive US$2,500,000, an increase of more than US$700,000 from 2008.
This is money well spent.