Global Gag Rule Makes NGOs Gag |
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Tuesday, 31 January 2017 Since taking office a little over a week ago, the newest US President, Donald Trump, has issued several executive orders, but none have more impact on the NGO world than the reinstatement of the global gag rule, which prevents NGOs from receiving US funds if they provide abortions – or even provide information about abortions. It comes as no surprise that Mr Trump has reinstated this ban on family-planning NGOs, as every Republican president since Reagan has enforced this rule; however, Trump has extended this policy to include all global health funding, not just family planning — meaning it will impact funding of 9.5 billion US dollars for health vs a 600 million budget dedicated to family planning. The implications are, as Mr Trump would say, YUGE. NGOs are already prohibited from directly using US funds from providing abortions but this policy prohibits them from using their own funds from providing or discussing abortions while receiving US aid, forcing them to choose between providing optimal health care to women or risk losing massive funding and facing consolidation or closure. Let’s be clear: this is not a pro-life policy, as now the lives and health of millions of women around the world are compromised. There is no evidence that this policy decreases abortions, but it does remove access to safe abortions, condoms, and health care for women world-wide. NGOs around the world are now faced with the tough ethical dilemma of choosing to put their client’s health and safety first and forgoing US aid, or accepting US funds and denying women around the globe accurate and optimal healthcare. Further reading:Photo credit: Chance Agrella via Freerange |
By Marci Otranto,
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