New Turner Donations Promote Adolescent Sexuality in Developing World

By Austin Ruse | 2000

     (NEW YORK – C-FAM)  Since its founding in 1997, American mogul Ted Turner's UN Foundation has given $118 million to dozens of United Nations projects in areas ranging from child health to security. Recently, the organization concluded its fifth round of allocations in two years, granting $51 million to UN projects in child health, the environment, women and population, peace, security and human rights. Included in the list of projects were seven initiatives to promote adolescent reproductive health around the world.

     The awards, which totaled nearly $8.8 million, were given to projects organized by the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) and the World Health Organization (WHO.) The funds will be directed to projects aimed at young people in Jordan, Tanzania, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Zambia, Russia and the Pacific Region. UNFPA executive director Nafis Sadik praised the UN Foundation for their contribution, saying, "This assistance will help give [young people] some of the information and services they need to protect their health [and] to make informed and responsible choices." UNFPA has been a strong proponent of adolescent reproductive rights unrestricted by the guidance of parents.

     In Jordan, UNICEF and UNFPA will use their $3.1 million grant to create a "comprehensive youth strategy for the country." While UNICEF intends to assist adolescents – particularly girls – in developing their "livelihood opportunities," UNFPA will work to "encourage attention to adolescent reproductive health among decision-makers" in the government and the schools. UNFPA will also use its grant to "encourage participation of 42,000 girls age 13-17 in reproductive health activities and life skills."

     The two African projects, run by UNICEF and WHO, will focus on involving youth in HIV/AIDS prevention programs. The $1.3 million grant from the UN Foundation will be used to "engage young people in HIV/AIDS communication programs that target their peers" and "enhance youth participation in all aspects of the design, delivery and evaluation of interventions." UNICEF will use its resources in Tanzania to target young people both in and out of the school system by utilizing local governments, health ministers, artists and National Television. UNFPA will conduct a similar project in the Pacific with $2.3 million from the UN Foundation.

     Another $2.1 million from Turner's organization will finance UNICEF and UNFPA projects in Russia, where a poor economy has fueled high abortion, STD and unwed pregnancy rates. UNFPA plans to provide "reproductive health information to adolescents through summer camp and vocational schools" to 100,000 to 200,000 young people in six Russian cities. UNICEF's project will "provide health services,.develop reproductive health education," and finance efforts to "influence national policies for youth."

     In addition to its generous monetary support, the UN Foundation, which was created to distribute Turner's $1 billion donation to the UN system, is an active promoter of the UN throughout the world. Turner is also an outspoken proponent of population control.

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