![]() ![]() The Global Gag Rule could significantly jeopardize the progress made, especially for the poorest and most vulnerable women and communities around the world and runs counter to long-standing bipartisan support in Congress and in the American public. This critical funding improves the lives of families and communities, which increases stability and prosperity globally, including in the United States. These programs have also allowed girls to stay in school, pursue jobs, and have children if and when they are ready. government has been a global leader investing in programs that improve voluntary access to contraceptives, maternal, newborn, and child health, and prevent and treat deadly diseases like malaria and HIV/AIDS. Marie Stopes International estimates that without alternative funding, it will be forced to scale back its services, which could result in upwards of 6.5 million unintended pregnancies, 2.2 million abortions, of which 2.1 million would be unsafe abortions, and 21,700 maternal deaths, from 2017 to 2020.įor decades, the U.S. When the policy was last in effect, Family Health Options Kenya had to close six clinics after losing funding, leaving 9,000 people with little access to health care, most of which are in the poorest and hardest to reach areas. The implications of the Global Gag Rule on these clinics and organizations will be devastating. Many organizations provide comprehensive health care, especially in rural areas where there may only be one clinic serving as a one-stop-shop providing everything from immunization to contraceptives to maternal and child care services to HIV and malaria treatment. The new Global Gag Rule will have a tragic impact on the poorest families, particularly women and girls. ![]() This expansion would affect 15 times more funding – and millions more women and families – than the previous Global Gag Rule. government funds to provide, refer someone to, or even discuss abortion services. This means that some of the most effective foreign NGOs in 60 low- and middle-income countries that provide prevention and lifesaving treatment for everything from HIV/AIDS to malaria, tuberculosis, Zika, maternal and child health, and immunization will risk losing funding and could possibly be forced to shut down if they or their partners use non-U.S. Although the language is unclear, the Administration’s Presidential Memorandum appears to expand the Global Gag Rule to all U.S. In the past, the policy applied only to U.S. The current version of the Global Gag Rule appears to be vastly expanded. In some countries, abortion rates (particularly unsafe abortions) went up – not down – as women were unable to access contraceptives and had more unintended pregnancies. Research shows that when this policy was last in effect, more women and infants died due to pregnancy-related complications. funds to foreign NGOs providing crucial services such as maternal and child health care, HIV testing and counseling, comprehensive sex education, and contraceptive services for the people who need them most. funds from paying for abortion, so the effect of the Gag Rule will be to cut off vital U.S. law under the Helms Amendment already prevents U.S. funds from providing, referring to, or even sharing information about abortion where it is legal, even with their own, private funds. The Global Gag Rule prohibits international NGOs that receive U.S. As UN Foundation President & CEO Kathy Calvin explained last week, this policy “jeopardizes the health and well-being of the world’s most vulnerable girls and women,” and threatens efforts to fight diseases like HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, Zika, and even cancer. Administration instated a more harmful version of the Mexico City Policy, otherwise known as the Global Gag Rule. Editor’s Note: This post was co-authored by the UN Foundation’s Kate Dodson and Seema Jalan Ignacio ![]()
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