Saturday, January 24, 2009

Obama reverses restrictions on US abortion aid

The new President repealed the Mexico City Policy or Global Gag Rule, which bars the US from providing aid to any organizations that educate about elective abortions or conduct them. The rule had been passed by Reagan, repealed by Clinton and reinstated by Bush. Organizations would have to pledge to abide by the rule or lose funding and access to contraceptive supplies.

This rule barred funding from organizations like Planned Parenthood, which provide elective abortions in addition to a wide range of other reproductive health services. The Population Council estimates that there are 19 million unsafe abortions a year, many of which are probably elective. Population Council offers a snapshot of how the gag rule impeded family planning operations in Ethopia.

No comments: