Planned Parenthood and the United Nations Foundation Honor Congresswoman Karen Bass for Leadership on International Family Planning

Planned Parenthood Federation of America, the United Nations Foundation, Planned Parenthood Los Angeles, and over one hundred constituents, students, and community leaders honored Congresswoman Karen Bass today with the fourth International Family Planning Hero award. The program featured remarks from:

• Sue Dunlap, president and chief executive officer, Planned Parenthood Los Angeles;
• Peter Yeo, vice president of public policy and executive director, Better World Campaign, United Nations Foundation;
• Latanya Mapp Frett, vice president-global, Planned Parenthood Federation of America;
• Gaspar Hernán Orozco Ríos, Cónsul de Asuntos Comunitarios, Consulado General de México in Los Angeles;
• Dr. Thomas J. Coates, director, UCLA Center for World Health;
• Congresswoman Karen Bass.

Midway through her second term in Congress, Representative Bass has established herself as a rising leader on women’s health in the House.  In addition to her legacy of work in the California State Legislature, Representative Bass has championed the life-saving work of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and co-sponsored several pieces of legislation that would expand access to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health care both locally and around the world.

As a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Representative Bass is an essential advocate for the world’s most vulnerable populations.

“Representative Bass is a true international hero for women’s health and rights,” said Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America. “Her leadership has been crucial to ensuring that women in the United States and all over the world can decide whether and when to have children, and that they have access to a wide range of reproductive health services. Thanks to her support for international family planning, and others like her, the United States is able to improve the lives of millions of women and girls, and put women’s health and rights at the top of its global development agenda.”

“Universal access to sexual and reproductive health care allows women to thrive, leading to healthier families, more sustainable communities and more stable governments,” said Kathy Calvin, president and CEO of the United Nations Foundation. “Representative Karen Bass’s leadership in prioritizing access to international family planning is critical. Investing in women’s reproductive health is key to achieving our global development goals, and through her work, Representative Bass has helped create a more equitable and prosperous world for us all.”

 “Congresswoman Karen Bass is a true champion for women – both here in Los Angeles and around the world,” said Sue Dunlap, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Los Angeles. “She understands that access to affordable, high-quality medical care is essential to building healthy families and healthy communities.”

The International Family Planning Hero award was established to honor congressional leaders who champion support for the world’s most vulnerable women and young people.  Previous honorees include Representative Nita Lowey (D-NY) in 2009, Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) in 2011, and Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), who was honored posthumously with the award earlier this year.

###

About Planned Parenthood Federation of America

Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) is the nation’s leading advocate of high-quality, affordable health care for women, men, and young people. With more than 700 health centers across the country, Planned Parenthood organizations serve all patients with care and compassion, with respect and without judgment. Through health centers, programs in schools and communities, and online resources, Planned Parenthood is a trusted source of reliable health information that allows people to make informed health decisions. We do all this because we care passionately about helping people lead healthier lives.

For more than 40 years, Planned Parenthood Global, the international arm of PPFA, has been working overseas to ensure that women, men, and young people in some of the world’s most neglected areas have access to the health care they need to control their bodies and their futures. By partnering with local advocates, medical service providers, and youth leaders and helping to build sustainable networks and organizations, we find innovative ways to deliver critical services and fight for more inclusive laws and policies.

About The United Nations Foundation
The United Nations Foundation builds public-private partnerships to address the world’s most pressing problems, and broadens support for the United Nations through advocacy and public outreach. Through innovative campaigns and initiatives, the Foundation connects people, ideas, and resources to help the UN solve global problems. The Foundation was created in 1998 as a U.S. public charity by entrepreneur and philanthropist Ted Turner and now is supported by global corporations, foundations, governments, and individuals. For more information, visit www.unfoundation.org.

About Planned Parenthood Los Angeles

Planned Parenthood Los Angeles is the largest provider of reproductive health care in Los Angeles County, providing care with more than 250,000 patient visits and sexual health education to nearly 60,000 people. All of our services are safe and convenient with nineteen health centers throughout LA County. Planned Parenthood Los Angeles also works to involve people and impact decision-makers in the fight to secure and protect access to a full range of quality reproductive health care services. For more information, please visit www.plannedparenthood.org.