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Repeal the Global Gag Rule!
The Global Gag Rule, a policy reinstated by President Bush in 2001, mandates that no U.S. family planning assistance can be provided to foreign non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that use their own funds to perform, counsel patients about or refer for abortions or advocate to make abortion legal in their country. Foreign NGOs are now faced with an impossible choice: they must either comply with the Gag Rule’s restrictions to continue to receive US aid or reject the policy and lose a major funding source. The Global Gag Rule has already had disastrous effects worldwide by effectively denying funding to many international family planning and STD/HIV prevention organizations who are on the frontlines of serving some of the world’s poorest and most vulnerable populations.
The Global Democracy Promotion Act of 2005 (House Bill 4465) calls for a repeal of the Global Gag Rule. Click on the "Send this Message" button to send a letter to Delaware's Representative in the US Congress, Mike Castle, asking him to co-sponsor this bill.
| Sample Letter for Campaign |
Subject: Repeal the Global Gag Rule
Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,
The Mexico City Policy, or Global Gag Rule, is extremely detrimental to global family planning and STD/HIV prevention efforts because it effectively denies funding to organizations who serve populations most in need of such services. The Global Gag Rule jeopordizes the health and safety of women worldwide by forcing foreign organizations to comply with harmful restrictions on their services in order to recieve U.S. family planning aid.
For this reason, I urge you to co-sponsor the Global Democracy Promotion Act of 2005 (House Bill 4465), which calls for a repeal of the Global Gag Rule. At a time when the United States is purporting to spread democracy and goodwill throughout the developing world, our nation needs to live up to its claims. The U.S. should stand in strong support of the global human right to choose from a full range of reproductive options and provide aid to those organizations who provide such services in their country.
As your constituent, I again ask for your help in saving women's lives by signing the Global Democracy Promotion Act.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
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Campaign Launched:
February 24, 2006
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In January 2001, President George W. Bush reinstated the Global Gag Rule, formally known as the Mexico City Policy. The Global Gag Rule is a set of restrictions that prohibits foreign non-governmental organizations (NGOs) from engaging in any type of abortion-related services, including counseling and referrals, in order to receive U.S. family planning assistance. Furthermore, NGOs must give up their free speech rights by promising not to advocate for abortion rights, even in countries where abortion is legal. The Global Gag Rule has had a disastrous effect on international family planning and STD/HIV prevention efforts because it forces organizations to decide between accepting US aid along with major restrictions on their services or rejecting the policy and losing a major funding source.
The Global Gag Rule has already had very real implications on women, children, and communities world-wide. Organizations that do not agree to the Global Gag Rule restrictions lose access to U.S.-donated contraceptives, including condoms, which prevent pregnancy as well as STD/HIV transmission. Providers have been forced to end programs, shorten hours, limit services, and close clinics. This is particuarly an issue in poor and rural areas where the family planning provider may be the community's only health care option.
What's more, there has been no evidence that the Gag Rule has even moderately reduced the number of abortions internationally. Instead of channeling additional aid to increase efforts to prevent unplanned pregnancy and reduce the need for abortions, the Global Gag Rule endangers women by cutting funding and support for family planning agencies. In the absense of adequately funded programs and providers, women seeking abortions are being forced to risk the complications that can result from unsafe procedures performed by untrained providers in unhygienic conditions.
For more information, visit Access Denied, PPFA's website on the Global Gag Rule.
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