She Decides: Launch crowdfunding and international conference in Brussels this spring
This Spring, Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Development Cooperation Alexander De Croo will host an international conference in Brussels with like-minded countries and organizations that join forces to support aid organizations and UN agencies working around family planning and women's rights. Earlier this week, the White House banned funding for organizations that support girls and women in developing countries on family planning, contraception and safe abortions. The initiative to establish an international fund is meanwhile named Global Fundraising Initiative She Decides. This afternoon, a crowdfunding was launched to allow private donations.
Alexander De Croo, Deputy Prime Minister (Belgium): "We have received positive response from all over the world. A number of countries have already announced that they are joining the Dutch initiative together with Belgium. But we also received questions of individuals wanting to make a contribution. Yesterday, I received an email from an American citizen opposing the American president’s decision and who wanted to make his own financial contribution. The crowdfunding platform, launched this afternoon, will allow him and many other citizens throughout the world to do so.”
Today, the Dutch minister Lilianne Ploumen announced the crowdfunding platform She Decides, accessible through shedecides.eu. The crowdfunding support will go directly to the aid organizations that are losing their funding because of the US decision, but still want to continue their important work for girls and women. On social media a campaign is launched with the hashtag #shedecides.
International Conference in Brussels this Spring
Deputy Prime Minister Alexander De Croo announced that Belgium will organize a broad, international conference in Brussels, bringing together like-minded countries, organizations and private companies that support the Global Fundraising Initiative She Decides. During the conference countries can express their political and financial support, aid organizations can map their needs in detail and private companies can show their commitment.
Alexander De Croo, Deputy Prime Minister (Belgium): "I invite countries, organizations and private companies to massively join and support the Global Fundraising Initiative She Decides. This initiative is open to all who care about the rights of women and girls. Girls and women should be able to decide when and how many children they want. This is a human right.”
The international meeting in Brussels will launch a common strategy to limit the impact of this American decision for millions of women and girls.
