A few weeks ago, I wrote about the Helms Amendment a destructive policy that is preventing women abroad from getting abortions. There is yet another policy that affects women’s reproductive health abroad. The Global Gag Rule is currently not in affect, but has caused many women abroad harm. Created by Ronald Reagan the global gag rule prevents foreign NGOs from receiving foreign aid if they provide abortion services. It also prohibits aid when foreign NGOs promote abortion or try to refer patients to other organizations for abortion care.
While this policy would be illegal in the United States if it was imposed against domestic NGOs it is allowed to proceed against foreign NGOs. The policy restricts the activities of NGOS from speech to association therefore violating the first amendment. Although the legal analysis is a bit more complicated many activists agree that this policy unreasonably restricts foreign NGOs operating powers.
The history of this policy is long and convoluted. Created by President Reagan the Global Gag Rule was applied until President Bill Clinton took office. The Global Gag Rule was not in affect for most of those years until President Bush took office. Bush hoped that by implementing the gag rule abortions would be reduced. What President Bush and many pro-life politicians forget is that a woman who does not have a child will most likely find a way to not have a child. In the end, the only thing the gag rule is helping promote is unsafe abortion.
Because the United States is one of the main sources of foreign aid it isn’t always easy for organizations to refuse to take money from the United States. When the Global Gag Rule isn’t in effect it is easier for these organizations to operate. Instead of being forbidden from taking U.S. funds if they perform abortions, NGOs can just put U.S. funds in an account and other funds in a separate account. The NGO insures that the U.S. funds are not used for abortion services and the NGO is still able to perform an essential service. This is similar to how Planned Parenthood works in regards to Medicare.
What the Global Gag Rule does is force American policy and thought down foreign NGO throats. They literally gag and are forced to close their doors resulting in the end of not only abortion services, but HIV/AIDS counseling, STI services and other family planning services. Women are harmed and NGOs that use foreign aid dollars’ efficiency are forced to close just because of what some men in Washington think is right.
Although the Global Gag Rule is not in effect currently with the upcoming election it is a very important issue. If for some reason Trump is elected, we will definitely see the Global Gag Rule go back into effect. A President Trump could also work to make sure that foreign aid funds are not used for family planning at all. The only way to stop the Global Gag Rule from being implemented by a new president is legislating the policy away. The Global Democracy Promotion Act works to do just that. However, with a republican majority in both houses the bill hasn’t moved in many years and will most likely not be passed even if there was a slight democrat majority. For now, we have to take action talk to our representatives and hope that we can influence change. Even though this policy doesn’t make any sense politicians need to hear our voices. As constituents our opinions are important to the people we elect.
