The Facts About the Global Gag Rule

The Global Gag Rule is a US government policy which prevents foreign NGOs (Non-governmental organizations) from advocating or providing abortion-related services, even with their own funds, as a condition for receiving family planning assistance/funding from the US Agency for International Development (USAID). This policy, unknown to most Americans, is causing significant harm to women around the world. Consider that USAID funding is most desperately needed in low-income countries which most likely have an inadequate health care system. Now consider that, each year, 20 million women worldwide are driven to unsafe abortion, with complications killing about 70,000 of them (Center for Reproductive Rights). Of these 20 million, about 95% take place in low-income countries. The same countries which tend to rely on USAID funding.

The Center for Reproductive Rights recently conducted a study, focusing on four countries where the "gag" is in effect due to the acceptance of USAID family planning funds. In one of these four, Ethiopia, unsafe abortion is the second leading cause of death among women of reproductive age, accounting for 55% of maternal mortality and 1/5 of all hospital admissions… In Kenya, 40% of maternal mortality is due to unsafe abortion, with more than 5,000 deaths per year. Peru sees a staggering 350,000 clandestine abortions each year and has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in Latin America, with 1 in 7 women who have had abortions ending up in the hospital. In Uganda, unsafe abortions lead to 1/3 of maternal deaths annually and 5,000 women/girls are admitted to hospitals each year for incomplete abortions.

The Global Gag rule has countless ill effects, felt in countries across the world who do not have the means or ability to stand up to the US government and who continue to be held hostage by its policies. GG has created fear, distrust, and a climate of censorship and oppression. It is an inherently biased policy and imposes this bias upon other cultures and countries. GG is slowing progress in these countries which need it most. It is preventing the sensible reform of abortion laws and policies in said countries and infringes upon their national sovereignty and democratic processes. GG has isolated and reduced the effectiveness of NGOs working for the betterment and basic care of the people of these countries and has reduced access to or shut down other programs which provide family planning, HIV/AIDS education/services, EC (emergency contraception), and other services, which it was not supposed to affect.

Americans can not allow themselves to continue to turn a blind eye to the actions of our government and the impact of its policies upon women around the world! The Global Gag Rule is, quite simply, a BAD policy... Please, do all you can to educate yourself and others on this and other issues. Spread the word and take action to END THE GLOBAL GAG!!