The 34 Million Friends of UNFPA Brussels event: Passing the Torch

On 7 May 2003, American actress and Face to Face Chairperson, Linda Gray, focused international attention on the 34 Million Friends of UNFPA grassroots letter writing and fundraising movement in Europe at a gala event at the Residence Palace Theatre in Brussels.

During the ceremony hosted by Face to Face International, the torch of individual activism was passed from America (where the movement began) to Europe and received by popular Belgian TV presenter Goedele Liekens. Joined by numerous other European celebrities, Koos Richelle, Director-General for Development of the European Commission (photo above), Council and Parliament members, non-governmental organization representatives and the press, many of the event participants also took the opportunity to reaffirm their commitment to UNFPA and international population and development assistance.

How the 34 Million Friends of UNFPA Movement Began

In July 2002, the U.S. Administration announced its decision to withhold $34 million in funding to UNFPA – funding previously approved by the U.S. Congress. The United States is the only country ever to deny funding to UNFPA for non-budgetary reasons. The reason given was that UNFPA supports forced abortions in China. What wasn’t well known was that the U.S. Administration took this decision in spite of the fact that a mission sent out by the State Department could find no evidence to support the Administration’s claims. The State Department’s team issued a report in May 2002 which stated bluntly: “based on what we heard, saw, and read, we find no evidence that UNFPA has knowingly supported or participated in the management of a programme of coercive abortion or involuntary sterilization in the PRC [People’s Republic of China]. Indeed, UNFPA has registered its strong opposition to such practices.”

Outraged by the decision taken by the Bush Administration, two American women, Lois Abraham, a lawyer from New Mexico, and Jane Roberts, a retired French teacher from California decided to fight back. Working from their homes, they sent e-mails to friends, clubs and associations urging people to donate one dollar or more to help bridge the gap in funding. Their ultimate goal is to find “34 Million Friends” to help UNFPA continue its work as the largest international provider of maternal health care and family planning.
Now, hundreds of envelopes containing dollar bills, generous checks and heartfelt messages arrive each day at the UNFPA offices in New York. Donations are from men, women and youth who firmly believe that all people should have access to family planning and reproductive health services.

People in the U.S. send an email letter to 10 friends who then pass it on to 10 more friends. In no time, the list of UNFPA’s friends has grown exponentially to over 100,000 people,” states Micol Zarb, Media Officer for UNFPA in New York. “As of 1 May 2003, one million dollars has been received by UNFPA from the American public.”

In March 2003, Lois and Jane decided to widen the circle of ‘friends.’ They sent e-mail letters in support of UNFPA to friends of theirs in Europe. With a little help from Face to Face International, they quickly found encouragement from European celebrities and population assistance organizations, many of whom came together on May 7th in Brussels to join Lois and Jane and pass the torch of individual activism.

How You Can Help

- Make a non tax-deductible and secure, online credit card donation to UNFPA at: www.unfpa.org/support/34million.htm

- Pass the 34 Million Friends of UNFPA fundraising letter to 10 or more of your friends and acquaintances. Click here to see a sample letter.