SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FREE NEWSLETTER
Daily news & progressive opinion—funded by the people, not the corporations—delivered straight to your inbox.
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
Huge Crowd Marches on White House to Protest Trump's Global Gag Rule
The president's expansion of the policy "is just the first of many attempts the Trump administration will make to strip away our sexual and reproductive health, rights, and justice"
Mar 08, 2017
Hundreds of women marched in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, protesting President Donald Trump's reinstatement of the so-called "global gag rule"--a "failed, deadly policy" they say "threatens access to safe abortion and other basic healthcare for millions of people around the world."
Trump signed an executive order reinstating and "dramatically expanding" the rule, also known as the Mexico City Policy, on his first full business day in office. The policy cuts off U.S. aid for international NGOs that offer abortion services, even provide information or referrals on abortion, or advocate to make abortion more accessible.
"We know that this egregious attack on the health and lives of women and other people who depend on U.S.-funded health programs for their care is just the first of many attempts the Trump administration will make to strip away our sexual and reproductive health, rights, and justice," organizers wrote in their call-to-action for Wednesday's protest, one of many marking International Women's Day.
In an analysis published Tuesday, Human Rights Watch (HRW) noted, as others have done, that the rule threatens the health and safety of women and families around the world.
But the organization went further, pointing out that Trump's version of the rule is worse than previous incarnations. Under prior Republican administrations, HRW explained, "the restrictions in the Mexico City Policy applied specifically to U.S. family planning funds"--about $575 million. But now:
Trump's policy extends restrictions to all U.S. global health assistance--which could be up to $9.5 billion in funding support for family planning, maternal and child health, nutrition, HIV/AIDS--including PEPFAR, infectious diseases, malaria, TB, and neglected tropical diseases. The effects on these programs are still unknown but are expected to be profoundly damaging.
"In effect, Trump's global gag rule will produce a funding gap for some organizations that provide the highest quality services in some of the most under-resourced communities and countries," HRW wrote.
There have been international efforts to fill that gap. Just last week, the Canadian government pledged up to $20 million to fund sexual health and family planning initiatives as part of the global campaign called "She Decides." The first gathering of that group, held March 2, raised close to $200 million from countries and philanthropists.
Learn more about Wednesday's action and opposition to the gag rule under the hashtags #TrumpGlobalGag and #NoAbortionBan:
We are at a crossroads
This country and this world are at a monumental crossroads. US voters have an opportunity to beat back the forces of fascism and confront the billionaires who are rigging the economy, our media system, and our democracy, making it increasingly impossible for ordinary people to get by. We’re not just talking about the election. We’re talking about what must be done once these fascist elements are vanquished from power. We need a bolder set of solutions than what either major party has so far been willing to offer and a working-class movement ready to fight like hell for it. Trump didn't emerge from nowhere. The conditions that fueled MAGA authoritarianism were created by decades of radical neoliberal economic policies and a corrupt political system dominated by corporate interests. They slashed taxes on the super-rich, promising that the benefits would trickle down. They said giveaways to the corporate titans would make life more affordable for the rest of us. It was all bullshit. And when a bitter, betrayed populace searches for someone to blame, right-wing demagogues have little trouble finding scapegoats. People know when they're being lied to, but you won't hear any of this from the corporate media. Only independent journalism—powered and funded by people who believe in building a better world—can deliver truly trustworthy daily news. If you share our vision, please contribute whatever you can to sustain our work. |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
Deirdre Fulton
Deirdre Fulton is a former Common Dreams senior editor and staff writer. Previously she worked as an editor and writer for the Portland Phoenix and the Boston Phoenix, where she was honored by the New England Press Association and the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies. A Boston University graduate, Deirdre is a co-founder of the Maine-based Lorem Ipsum Theater Collective and the PortFringe theater festival. She writes young adult fiction in her spare time.
Hundreds of women marched in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, protesting President Donald Trump's reinstatement of the so-called "global gag rule"--a "failed, deadly policy" they say "threatens access to safe abortion and other basic healthcare for millions of people around the world."
Trump signed an executive order reinstating and "dramatically expanding" the rule, also known as the Mexico City Policy, on his first full business day in office. The policy cuts off U.S. aid for international NGOs that offer abortion services, even provide information or referrals on abortion, or advocate to make abortion more accessible.
"We know that this egregious attack on the health and lives of women and other people who depend on U.S.-funded health programs for their care is just the first of many attempts the Trump administration will make to strip away our sexual and reproductive health, rights, and justice," organizers wrote in their call-to-action for Wednesday's protest, one of many marking International Women's Day.
In an analysis published Tuesday, Human Rights Watch (HRW) noted, as others have done, that the rule threatens the health and safety of women and families around the world.
But the organization went further, pointing out that Trump's version of the rule is worse than previous incarnations. Under prior Republican administrations, HRW explained, "the restrictions in the Mexico City Policy applied specifically to U.S. family planning funds"--about $575 million. But now:
Trump's policy extends restrictions to all U.S. global health assistance--which could be up to $9.5 billion in funding support for family planning, maternal and child health, nutrition, HIV/AIDS--including PEPFAR, infectious diseases, malaria, TB, and neglected tropical diseases. The effects on these programs are still unknown but are expected to be profoundly damaging.
"In effect, Trump's global gag rule will produce a funding gap for some organizations that provide the highest quality services in some of the most under-resourced communities and countries," HRW wrote.
There have been international efforts to fill that gap. Just last week, the Canadian government pledged up to $20 million to fund sexual health and family planning initiatives as part of the global campaign called "She Decides." The first gathering of that group, held March 2, raised close to $200 million from countries and philanthropists.
Learn more about Wednesday's action and opposition to the gag rule under the hashtags #TrumpGlobalGag and #NoAbortionBan:
Deirdre Fulton
Deirdre Fulton is a former Common Dreams senior editor and staff writer. Previously she worked as an editor and writer for the Portland Phoenix and the Boston Phoenix, where she was honored by the New England Press Association and the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies. A Boston University graduate, Deirdre is a co-founder of the Maine-based Lorem Ipsum Theater Collective and the PortFringe theater festival. She writes young adult fiction in her spare time.
Hundreds of women marched in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, protesting President Donald Trump's reinstatement of the so-called "global gag rule"--a "failed, deadly policy" they say "threatens access to safe abortion and other basic healthcare for millions of people around the world."
Trump signed an executive order reinstating and "dramatically expanding" the rule, also known as the Mexico City Policy, on his first full business day in office. The policy cuts off U.S. aid for international NGOs that offer abortion services, even provide information or referrals on abortion, or advocate to make abortion more accessible.
"We know that this egregious attack on the health and lives of women and other people who depend on U.S.-funded health programs for their care is just the first of many attempts the Trump administration will make to strip away our sexual and reproductive health, rights, and justice," organizers wrote in their call-to-action for Wednesday's protest, one of many marking International Women's Day.
In an analysis published Tuesday, Human Rights Watch (HRW) noted, as others have done, that the rule threatens the health and safety of women and families around the world.
But the organization went further, pointing out that Trump's version of the rule is worse than previous incarnations. Under prior Republican administrations, HRW explained, "the restrictions in the Mexico City Policy applied specifically to U.S. family planning funds"--about $575 million. But now:
Trump's policy extends restrictions to all U.S. global health assistance--which could be up to $9.5 billion in funding support for family planning, maternal and child health, nutrition, HIV/AIDS--including PEPFAR, infectious diseases, malaria, TB, and neglected tropical diseases. The effects on these programs are still unknown but are expected to be profoundly damaging.
"In effect, Trump's global gag rule will produce a funding gap for some organizations that provide the highest quality services in some of the most under-resourced communities and countries," HRW wrote.
There have been international efforts to fill that gap. Just last week, the Canadian government pledged up to $20 million to fund sexual health and family planning initiatives as part of the global campaign called "She Decides." The first gathering of that group, held March 2, raised close to $200 million from countries and philanthropists.
Learn more about Wednesday's action and opposition to the gag rule under the hashtags #TrumpGlobalGag and #NoAbortionBan:
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.
To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good.
News & Opinion
Trending
Common Dreams, Inc. Founded 1997. Registered 501(c3) Non-Profit
Privacy Policy