President Obama Overturns Dangerous Global Gag Rule
January 23, 2009 4:24:01
Today, President Obama overturned a nearly decade-old policy that denied women across the globe access to the full range of reproductive health care needed to protect their health and strengthen their economic stability.
“President Obama’s action to overturn the global gag rule ushers in a new day for women’s health, here and around the world, signaling that the U.S. can once again be a leader in the fight for equal access, rights and freedom,” said Sarah Stoesz, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota (PPMNS).
Initially created by President Reagan, the Mexico City Policy, commonly referred to as the global gag rule, is a controversial, ideological policy that forbids international family planning clinics that receive U.S. aid from providing, referring, or counseling on abortion as part of the full range of a woman’s reproductive health options.
The global gag rule puts health providers in an extremely difficult position; clinics can choose to accept US dollars and be obligated to withhold access to life-saving services and information, or reject the aid and operate with very limited funds. Because of this policy, many clinics cannot afford the supplies to carry out day-to-day family planning work. Many have had to close, leaving women without access to vital reproductive health care.
“No longer will health care providers be forced to choose between receiving critical family planning funding and restricting the health care services and counseling they provide to women,” Stoesz said.
“President Obama’s repeal of the global gag rule sends a strong message: women’s health is not an ideological issue,” said Stoesz. “When one in 10 pregnancies across the globe end in an unsafe abortion, reversing this devastating policy will help reduce those tragic deaths while working to prevent the need for abortion,” said Stoesz.
“Starting now, women will once again have access to the full range of reproductive health care. International family planning clinics will have the funds to provide the important services that prevent unintended pregnancies and help men and women protect themselves from sexually transmitted infections,” Stoesz said.
“Under Obama’s leadership, the U.S. will end the era of politicizing woman’s health and resume its position as a leader in the improvement and expansion of women’s health, safety, and rights,” said Stoesz.
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