Last week, Advocates for Youth joined more than 60 organizations committed to diplomacy, reproductive rights, and human rights to oppose the nomination of Mike Pompeo to replace Rex Tillerson to the position of Secretary of State of the U.S. Department of State. His legislative record illustrates his hostility towards sexual and reproductive health and rights and would do nothing to end the rapid devolution of the rights of vulnerable communities, including women, girls, LGBTQ+ people, immigrant populations, and young people.

In Pompeo’s six years (2011-2017) in Congress, representing the 4th District Congressional seat in Kansas, he established a record in opposition to women’s and girls’ rights and health. For example, Pompeo voted to eliminate funding for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), an organization that provides family-planning services for people living in extreme poverty around the world. He also consistently voted to allow hospitals to refuse to provide emergency abortion care, even when a person’s life is in danger. Pompeo’s poor human rights record, including his anti-LGBTQ+ animus, defending torture, and anti-Muslim bigotry, is also deeply inconsistent with continued State Department policy.

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC) hearing on Pompeo’s nomination will be this Thursday, April 12, 2018 at 10:00am. We call on the SFRC to follow the lead of Advocates for Youth and other organizations in opposing his nomination. A vote in favor of Pompeo is a vote against this country’s most marginalized communities. Young people all over the world deserve a Secretary of State with a full history of diplomacy, understanding of human rights, and who actively defends marginalized communities. Pompeo is not that person and it is urgent that his nomination be voted down.