Obama Rescinds Global Gag Rule

CONTACTS

Susan Cohen, Guttmacher Institute, (202) 296-4012, extension 4224 Ellie Smeal, Feminist Majority, (703) 522-2214 Brian Dixon, Population Connection, (202) 745-3152 Tod Preston, Population Action International, (202) 557-3400 Elizabeth Maguire, Ipas, (919) 967-7052 Cara Hesse, Pathfinder International, (617) 924-7200, extension 216

WASHINGTON, Jan. 23, 2009 - President Barack Obama today issued an executive order reversing the global gag rule, paving the way for restored U.S. funding for international non-governmental organizations that provide life-saving family planning services.

The global gag rule, or the “Mexico City policy,” is a U.S policy that requires foreign non-governmental organizations to agree they will not “perform or promote abortion” in exchange for family planning assistance from the US Agency for International Development (USAID). Specifically, they may not use their own non-US funds to provide information on request to pregnant women about the option of legal abortion, provide legal abortion services or engage in any abortion-related public policy debates.

The reproductive health community believes that the rule harms women by preventing health clinics from providing them life-saving information on all available options and has forced some service providers in underserved areas to close. The policy, they argue, would be an unconstitutional abuse of free speech if applied in the United States.

The policy, named for the conference at which it was drafted in 1984, was first instituted by President Ronald Reagan in 1984; rescinded by President Clinton on Jan. 22, 1993; then reinstituted by President George W. Bush on Jan. 22, 2001.

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton released a statement that noted "President Obama's repeal of the global gag rule, which has prevented women around the world from gaining access to essential information and healthcare services, is a welcomed and important step taken during the first days of the Administration."

Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) and Congresswoman Louise M. Slaughter (D-NY) both released statements applauding President Obama for rescinding the global gag rule.

"Women's health has been severely impacted by the cutoff of assistance. President Obama's actions will help reduce the number of unintended pregnancies, abortions and women dying from high-risk pregnancies because they don't have access to family planning," said Tod Preston, a spokesman for advocacy group Population Action International.

More than 250 organizations from around the world working to promote women’s sexual and reproductive health and rights sent a letter to President Obama to express deep gratitude for repealing the global gag rule.

The following organizations have released statements and press releases applauding President Obama for repealing the global gag rule: Association of Reproductive Health Care Professionals, Catholics for Choice, Feminist Majority, Guttmacher Institute, International Planned Parenthood Federation/Western Hemisphere Region, International Center for Research on Women, International Women's Health Coalition, Ipas, Marie Stopes International, NARAL Pro-Choice America, National Women’s Law Center, NOW, Pacific Institute for Women's Health, Pathfinder International, Physicians for Reproductive Choice and Health, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Population Connection, Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, and SIECUS.

RH RealityCheck.org has numerous blogs related to the global gag rule.

www.PLANetWIRE.org will continue to post updates on developments.  

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