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The Global Gag Rule

The Global Gag Rule . By: Sameen Farooq and Grace-Marie Ottomanelli Pre-med GHLI 2008 11/9/08. Outline. Origins of the Global Gag Rule Historical Precedents Social and political impact around the globe Future Implications. Origins . Roe v. Wade (1973)

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The Global Gag Rule

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  1. The Global Gag Rule By: Sameen Farooq and Grace-Marie Ottomanelli Pre-med GHLI 2008 11/9/08

  2. Outline Origins of the Global Gag Rule Historical Precedents Social and political impact around the globe Future Implications

  3. Origins • Roe v. Wade (1973) • The Helm’s Amendment (1973) • Placed a block on any direct use of USAID funds for abortion related services by both governments and NGOs • Established anti-abortion US policies as national precedents • The provisions of this amendment were further reasserted by the “Global Gag Rule”

  4. History • 1984-Big Brother? • Reagan Administration- Executive Order • World Population Conference in Mexico City

  5. 1990s-2000s • The Gag Rule was rescinded in 1993 by the Clinton Administration. • Smith Amendment (1999): • The amendment remained in affect for a year, and required foreign NGOs to comply with the Gag Rule restrictions for one year • Under the George W. Bush administration the Gag Rule was fully reinstated via executive order, and today is still a policy directive of the U.S.

  6. Stipulations • NGOs would be ineligible for US foreign aid through USAID and the US Family Planning Association if they received funds from other sources and engaged in the following activities: • Performing abortions • Providing counseling or referral for abortions • Lobbying for increased funding for abortion rights and accessibility in their home countries

  7. Implications • The Gag Rule did not implicate governments or US based NGOs unless they were in defiance of its policy directives • It did not apply to non-family planning US assistance, such as “child survival” • It did not ban abortions in cases of: • Rape • Incest • Endangerment of Women’s Health

  8. Concerns • The Global Gag Rule undermined: • Women’s reproductive health issues • The importance of family planning • Population control • Comprehensive access to women’s medical services • The fight against: • STIs • HIV/AIDS • TB • Malaria

  9. NGOs Non-governmental Organizations provide: • Contraceptives for both males and females • Provides pre- and post-natal care • Family Planning education • Controlling the spread of STIs • Fighting global disease epidemics • Working with national governments and international organizations

  10. Adverse Effects of Policy Directives • Degrading the autonomy of NGOs by restricting monetary funds • Failing to prevent abortions, and possibly increasing the rate of illegal and unsafe abortions • Resulting in a great level of confusion about: • Contraception • Education • Medical Services

  11. Ethics and Morality • Is it ethical for the US to impose its moral values through restrictions placed by the Global Gag Rule? • For instance: • In Kenya about 20,000 women per year are brought into local hospitals due to ill-performed abortions3 • Globally 20 million unsafe abortions occur each year mostly in underserved countries3 • 70,000 women die annually due to abortion complications throughout the world3

  12. Effects of the Loss of NGO support • Drastic slashes in social services • 2005-2006, Ghana saw decreased involvement of its national Planned Parenthood Association when: • 697,000 Planned Parenthood Association clients lost access to: • Sexual education • HIV testing • Contraceptives • Family planning services • The International Planned Parenthood Association of St. Lucia cancelled a 218 person “peer-helpers” program: • Designed to teach 12,000 school-aged children about reproductive health and methods of prevention for HIV/AIDS and STIs

  13. Global Gag Rule ≠Social well being • No condoms, Oh My! • Contraception: • Who? • Where? • How much?

  14. The Basket of Life • Department for International Development (DFID) • Bilateral aid known as the “The Basket Fund” • Purpose • USAID is the only bilateral aid that does not support “The Basket Fund.”

  15. What’s going on? • H.R. 2674 also known as the 2008 Foreign Operations Appropriations bill • Eases the restrictions placed by the Global Gag Rule • Approved in the House of Representatives and the Senate • Unfortunately, this “bill will remain a bill, and not become a law” for now • There are positive indications of its reversal under the Obama Administration

  16. ΣGlobal Gag Rule

  17. AMSA in Action • Main goal for AMSA is to repeal the Global Gag Rule in Barack Obama’s first 100 days as President. • AMSA members can organize events on campuses including: • Call-ins • Rallies • Information sessions • Moderated Panels

  18. Bibliography 1) Global Gag Rule & Contraceptive Supplies from the Access Denied website: http://www.globalgagrule.org/ 2) The Global Gag Rule & HIV/AIDS from the Access Denied website: http://www.globalgagrule.org/ 3) The Global Gag Rule & Maternal Deaths Due to Unsafe Abortion from the Access Denied website: http://www.globalgagrule.org/ 4) H.R. 2674 information: http://www.sierraclub.org/population/global_gag_rule/ 5) Crane, Barbara B. & Dusenberry, Jennifer. Power and Politics in International Funding for Reproductive Health: the US Global Gag Rule. Reproductive Health Matters Journal 6) www.globalgagrule.org 7) http://www.amsa.org/global/aids/wad.cfm

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