The Global Gag Rule, also known as the Mexico City Policy was first put into place by President Reagan in 1984. This rule prevents foreign countries from putting American money into anything involving abortion. If an overseas organization even taught people about abortion, they lost all funding from the States.
In recent years it has been a back and forth matter for our country. President Clinton ended the Global Gag Rule during his term while President Bush reinstated it. Later, President Obama, once again ended it and just this week President Trump had it reinstated once again.
Americans are divided in their opinions. Some say that the policy is great while others, like me, are unhappy.
I have seen people argue that American funding "shouldn't go towards providing abortions" for those in other countries. Maybe if that's all this policy did, I wouldn't be so passionately against it. But the fact that people in these countries are facing not even being able to be educated on the matter is what makes me mad.
Women have the right to learn the facts. These organizations aren't even allowed to educate those in countries where abortion is legal anymore.
Sure, they have their own money but other countries aren't as fortunate. We are one of the most powerful countries in the world and the whole "with great power comes great responsibility" concept is absolutely true. We have the responsibility to be there for the people who are being failed by their governments and for the countries who aren't able to be there for themselves yet. We have so much to be fortunate for in America and we should be spreading that fortune around.
The U.S. hasn't even been paying for anyone's abortions. All our funding towards organizations that provide abortions go towards funding other programs or supporting clinics as a whole. When the federal government gives Planned Parenthood money, it's put towards STD testing, mammograms, contraceptives, etc. But not abortion,directly due to the Hyde Act of 1976.
Republicans need to face the facts, the Global Gag Rule doesn't work. In countries like Kenya, Nepal and Zambia the policy just led to an increase in unwanted pregnancies and while it did help aid a decrease in legal abortions, you can connect it as a direct link to the increase of illegal abortions those countries saw in the following years.
It seems that Pro-Lifers are so against abortion that they are blinded to the fact that if someone wants an abortion, they will get one and frankly a legal abortion is so much better than an illegal one. At least legal abortions are done by certified professionals in a healthy setting. You can't say the same for ones done illegally.
