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Associated Press, January 18, 2005 Health and Education
for Children - Not Reproductive Health
DATELINE: UNITED NATIONS U.S. Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman said Tuesday that as the new head of the U.N. children's agency, she will focus on promoting education and health rather than on social issues such as reproductive health and sex education. Veneman, who resigned her Cabinet post following President George W. Bush's re-election, was quizzed on key youth-related issues after Secretary-General Kofi Annan introduced her at a news conference. She will replace Carol Bellamy as executive director of the United Nations Children's Fund on May 1 if confirmed by the UNICEF board. "I don't come with any broad agenda with regard to those or any other social issues," Veneman said when asked to clarify her views on the U.N.'s long-standing policies of reproductive health programs and education for girls, which are at odd with the Bush administration's argument that abstinence is the best prevention for AIDS. "I come with an agenda of helping children, particularly in the areas of education and health, and to address the issues of hunger and malnutrition." Did that mean she had no position on reproductive health and education? "I don't believe that these issues are relevant to the mission of UNICEF," Veneman replied. After the formal press conference, she was asked again whether this meant she would not work on reproductive issues with young people. "As I get into the job, we'll look at the whole array of issues...," Veneman said. "I think what's most important is I don't come with a social agenda, so to speak. Rather, I come with an agenda of helping youth of the world in terms of hunger, education and health issues primarily as the major missions." UNICEF's executive board, which is composed of member governments including the United States, has for years promoted reproductive health and education as part of its programs to prevent the deaths of mothers and newborns. The U.N. agency supports governments in their efforts to ensure good health care for women of childbearing age - a group which in many countries includes teenagers. Veneman, 55, a lawyer who grew up on a family farm in California's fertile San Joaquin Valley, said she comes to her new job "with a commitment to an approach that will yield for the world's children results not rhetoric, benefits not banalities," "The plight of children around the world is enormous. Children today must face issues that no child, no human being should have to confront - malnutrition and hunger, illiteracy and disease, specially the scourge of HIV/AIDS, exploitation and suffering, wars and natural disaster," she said. "UNICEF was created to address disease and desperation at the end of World War II. Modern crises such as the recent tsunami disaster show the needs today are just as great and the mission of UNICEF is as relevant as it is noble," Veneman said. Annan called Veneman's qualifications "outstanding," citing her focus on new ways of feeding the hungry and strong support for programs to advance the welfare of children at home and abroad. Since UNICEF was founded in December 1946, the United States has been its biggest financial support, and the executive director has always been an American. Annan and Veneman were asked whether her appointment would help repair the U.N.'s relations with the United States, which have been seriously damaged over allegations of corruption in the U.N. oil-for-food program. "Obviously her relationship and contacts in Washington will be helpful as we have used, in the past, contacts and relationships of others," Annan said. Veneman said the United States believes the United Nations is an important institution and she would work "to strengthen the relationship between the U.S. and the U.N." Annan paid tribute to Bellamy, 62, a Democrat selected for the job by former President Bill Clinton, who will end her second five-year term as UNICEF's chief on April 30. "She has led UNICEF into the 21st century with exemplary skill, determination and conviction, facing numerous challenges along the way," Annan said. "Her legacy must inspire us all, as I'm sure it will inspire Ann to do everything we can to make the world a safer, better place for children everywhere." << Associated Press -- 1/18/05 >>
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