Robinson role in global anti-violence campaign

Former president Mary Robinson has been invited to lead a worldwide initiative planned by Ireland to counter domestic violence against women.

Minister of State for overseas aid Conor Lenihan said he was in discussions with Mrs Robinson and a number of Irish non-governmental organisations about developing a new global initiative against gender-based violence.

"We need to do a lot more in this area. Mary Robinson, with her unique understanding of human rights and gender issues, would be a fantastic asset in this work," he said yesterday at the Dublin launch of the annual report of the United Nations Population Fund (UNPF).

The report says more than 500,000 women die each year of pregnancy-related causes that are largely preventable, while reproductive health illnesses are the leading cause of death in females aged between 15 and 44.

World leaders would not be able to make poverty history until they made gender discrimination history, Brendan O'Brien of UNPF told the launch.

He said it was "essential" that Ireland fulfilled its promise to increase overseas aid spending to the UN target level of 0.7 per cent of gross national product.

UNPF's Irish partner, the Irish Family Planning Association (IFPA), yesterday called on the Government to extend funding to family planning and reproductive health programmes in developing countries.

"There is a moral and social responsibility on the Minister to prioritise investment in programmes concerned with behavioural change, contraception and sex education," said IFPA chairwoman Catherine Ford. "These are key actions in preventing the transmission of HIV in developing countries. A first step in taking real leadership in preventing the spread of HIV/Aids and in providing family planning programmes would be for the Government to directly fund the work of the International Planned Parenthood Federation."

Mr Lenihan said he fully supported UNPF and described its work as "essential". Government support for the body had increased from €2.3 million in 2003 to almost €3 million last year, he pointed out.

George Bush's US administration, in contrast, has blocked funding of UNPF for the past four years, claiming its support for China's "one-child" population policy facilitates abortion there.

Similar claims have been made in Ireland, notably by former MEP Dana Rosemary Scallon.

The agency says the allegations are "simply incorrect".

Mr Lenihan said UNPF was bound to be involved in controversy from time to time because its work touched on "issues of cultural and religious sensitivity".

He said he would have "no problem" considering an application from IFPA, which would be considered in the normal way.