The global gag rule prohibits foreign nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) who receive U.S. global health assistance from providing legal abortion services or referrals, while also barring advocacy for abortion law reform, even if it’s done with the NGO’s own, non-U.S. funds. The policy allows access to abortion only in cases of rape, incest, or when a woman’s life is at risk.
President Ronald Reagan first enacted the global gag rule—also known as the Mexico City Policy—in 1984. Every president since Reagan has decided whether to enact or revoke the policy, making NGO funding vulnerable to political changes happening in the United States. The rule forces organizations to choose whether to provide comprehensive sexual and reproductive health care and education without U.S. funding, or comply with the policy in order to continue accepting U.S. funds.
On January 23, 2017, President Trump issued a Presidential Memorandum stating that any foreign non-governmental organization that takes US global health funds must certify that they do not engage in abortion-related activities, including providing abortion services, counselling or referrals. The Global Gag Rule applies to what organizations do with their own, non-US government funds, and forces health care providers to choose between providing a comprehensive spectrum of reproductive health care and taking US funding. Trump’s Global Gag Rule expands a bad policy to almost $9 billion in US foreign assistance. The consequences will be devastating for women and girls around the world.
Organizations and individuals heavily emphasized the potential impacts the policy will have on women’s and girls’ access to health care, particularly for already-marginalized groups of women. Studies of previous versions of the policy have documented negative health implications for women, including increases in unsafe abortion and maternal death. In particular, IWHC’s initial research has raised concerns that the policy will prevent women from accessing information about/referrals for safe abortion services, leading to increased reliance on unsafe services. In some communities, women’s and girls’ access to contraceptives, maternal health care, and other sexual and reproductive health services is already at risk due to closures or reduction of services.
SPEAKERS
Raissa Gaju, Co-Founder and General Secretary, Grow Up Smart Organisation
Klaivert Mwandingi
Norah Nakyegera
Kasozi Umar
Find out more about the Ubuntu Symposium at menengage.org/symposium
