- Comprehensive Sexual and Reproductive Health
- Family Planning
- HIV/AIDS and Other STIs
- Maternal Health
- U.S. Foreign Policy & Funding
- Why Women and Girls?
Global Gag Rule
First put in place from 1985 to 1993, the Mexico City Policy (Global Gag Rule) stipulates that nongovernmental organizations receiving U.S. assistance cannot use separately obtained non-U.S. funds to inform the public or educate their government on the need to make safe abortion available, provide legal abortion services, or provide advice on where to get an abortion. The policy did allow for exemptions in the cases of rape, incest, and the life of the mother, but not for a woman’s physical or mental health.
Documentation and analysis of the impact of the Global Gag Rule has shown that the policy restricts a basic right to speech and the right to make informed health decisions, as well as harms the health and lives of poor women by making it more difficult to access family planning services. It has also been found that the policy does not reduce abortion.
President Barack Obama repealed the provision on January 23, 2009. His statement called for a new approach to family planning, one that would end the politicization of women’s health around the world. Since the repeal, advocates have been working to ensure that future presidents cannot reenact the policy without the approval of Congress.
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August 23, 2010 - From polio to PEPFAR and beyond: can the GHI reform the way we do global health?
August 19, 2010 - Hillary Clinton Touts Global Health Initiative as Key Foreign Policy Tool
August 17, 2010 - Why foreign aid and Africa don’t mix
August 16, 2010 - SWAZILAND: ABC approach to be shelved
August 16, 2010 - Secretary Clinton Delivers Remarks Monday, August 16 on the Global Health Initiative
August 12, 2010 - U.S. Global Health Initiative Partners Seek Innovation for Impact
August 11, 2010 - Conversations with America: A Discussion on PEPFAR
August 10, 2010
Related Publications
- Trends in U.S. Support for Global Female Condom Procurement, Distribution, and Programming
Historically, the U.S. government has shown strong support for international female condom procurement and distribution. However, U.S. leadership for female condom commodities has not extended to programming. This poster was developed for the 2010 XVIII International AIDS Conference. - New Approaches to U.S. Foreign Policy and Global AIDS Strategy: What it Means for Women and Girls
The Obama administration has made key changes directly impact women and girls living with HIV/AIDS. However, problems with implementation and legislative barriers continue to impede progress towards a comprehensive approach to sexual and reproductive health and rights. This poster was developed for the 2010 XVIII International AIDS Conference. - HIV/AIDS and Women in the Sex Sector: Facing Challenges and Finding Solutions
What are some policy recommendations and effective models of engaging sex workers in HIV prevention? CHANGE developed this poster for the 2010 XVIII International AIDS Conference. - Fact Sheet: Global Sexual and Reproductive Health Act
The Global Sexual and Reproductive Health Act (H.R. 5121) establishes U.S. policy and authorizes assistance to support universal access to sexual and reproductive health care in developing countries, including contraception and safe abortion. - Fact Sheet: U.S. Global HEALTH Act of 2010
The U.S. Global HEALTH Act of 2010 (H.R. 4933) establishes a strategy to coordinate health-related U.S. foreign assistance and to assist developing countries in strengthening their indigenous health workforces and improving delivery of health services. - Fact Sheet: Global Democracy Promotion Act of 2010
The Global Democracy Promotion Act of 2010 provides that the U.S. Foreign Assistance Act cannot impose eligibility restrictions on international recipients of U.S. aid that would be illegal if imposed nationally. Would constitute a legislative repeal of the Mexico City Policy, also called the Global Gag Rule. - A Woman-Centered Approach to the U.S. Global Health Initiative
President Obama's GHI calls for a "woman-centered approach" to development policy and programming. This policy brief defines what that means by identifying the key elements of such an approach, and best practices. - Comments in Response to the Implementation of the Global Health Initiative: Consultation Document
Submitted by: Advocates for Youth, the Center for Health and Gender Equity (CHANGE), Family Care International, and the International Women’s Health Coalition. These comments are tailored to specifically address issues within our particular expertise, though we also join with other comments from the advocacy community addressing larger frame issues related to the President’s Global Health Initiative (GHI).
Related Links
- Americans for UNFPA
- Center for Development and Population Activities (CEDPA)
- Center for Reproductive Rights (CRR)
- International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF)
- International Women’s Health Coalition (IWHC)
- Ipas
- PEPFAR Watch
- Population Action International (PAI)
- Prevention Now!
- Reproductive Health Matters
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