United States' intention to eliminate contraceptives poses a challenge that France cannot overcome.
In a move that has sparked international outcry, a stockpile of contraceptives, purchased by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) under the administration of former President Joe Biden, is set to be incinerated in France.
The contraceptives, valued at nearly $10 million, were intended for women in some of the world's poorest countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. They include intrauterine devices (IUDs), implants, and birth control pills, and are reportedly up to five years away from expiring.
France's government has come under pressure to save the contraceptives, with several NGOs, including Family Planning and Doctors Without Borders, voicing their concerns. An opinion piece by five NGOs in the French newspaper Le Monde called the US decision "senseless".
Belgium's foreign ministry is actively exploring all possible avenues to prevent the destruction of these products, including temporary relocation solutions. However, the health ministry in France has stated that there is no legal basis for them to intervene to recover the stockpile.
Despite offers from NGOs to cover repackaging and shipping costs, the U.S. government has refused to redistribute or sell the supplies at less than full market value, citing policy restrictions linked to the Trump administration's anti-abortion Mexico City policy.
The US State Department spokesperson stated that the destruction of the products would cost $167,000 and "no HIV medications or condoms are being destroyed". However, the ministry also stated that they have no information on where the contraceptives would be destroyed.
The current status is that no viable solution has been reached to prevent the destruction, and the contraceptives remain slated for incineration. This decision has raised significant concerns among aid groups about increased unsafe abortions and unintended pregnancies in sub-Saharan Africa, where USAID is a major contraceptive supplier.
Estimates suggest that the destruction of these supplies could lead to approximately 174,000 unintended pregnancies, 69,000 unplanned births, and 56,000 unsafe abortions, as well as increased costs to U.S. taxpayers.
Attempts by U.S. lawmakers to intervene and prevent the incineration emerged too late to influence the immediate outcome, and an internal USAID memo had recommended immediate transfer to other entities to avoid waste, but this advice was not followed.
Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen stated that the contraceptives plan is "the epitome of waste, fraud, and abuse", and she and Democratic Senator Brian Schatz have introduced a bill aiming to prevent further US aid being wasted.
The US decision to destroy the contraceptives has provoked an outcry in France, with the destruction being labelled as "senseless" by NGOs. It remains unclear where the contraceptives currently are or if they have already been destroyed.
- The contraceptives, initially intended for women in sub-Saharan Africa, are currently slated for incineration in France, a move that has sparked international outcry.
- Despite Belgium's foreign ministry exploring solutions to prevent the destruction, France's health ministry has stated that there is no legal basis for them to intervene.
- An opinion piece by five NGOs in the French newspaper Le Monde called the US decision to destroy the contraceptives "senseless."
- This decision has raised significant concerns among aid groups about increased unsafe abortions and unintended pregnancies in sub-Saharan Africa.
- Estimates suggest that the destruction of these supplies could lead to approximately 174,000 unintended pregnancies, 69,000 unplanned births, and 56,000 unsafe abortions.
- The US decision to destroy the contraceptives has provoked an outcry in France, with the destruction being labelled as "senseless" by NGOs, and Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen describing it as "the epitome of waste, fraud, and abuse."
