ARROW in the News
January 25, 2025
The “Global Gag Rule”, that prohibits US foreign assistance to non-governmental organisations that promote, support or advocate for abortions has been reinstated without any time wasted with Trump’s resumption of office. The consequences of what will unfold are dire, filled with fear, uncertainty, and distress for the most marginalised of women, girls, and persons who can get pregnant. These include those who are facing sexual violence in conflict situations; those carrying a wanted but unviable pregnancy; persons experiencing an unintended pregnancy; and those who are survivors of rape and incest. For all of them, reimposition of the “Global Gag Rule” means forsaking their basic right to health, and reproductive autonomy, or risking their lives and facing violence by seeking an unsafe abortion. The brunt will be borne most acutely by the poor, vulnerable, and already marginalised communities who have no economic means of accessing quality abortion services other than state-funded services.
The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) clearly states that the role of women in procreation should not be the basis for discrimination. The denial of essential sexual and reproductive health services including abortion services constitutes discrimination against women. Therefore, the “Global Gag Rule” should never be regarded as a humane policy, but an onslaught on justice–especially for the most disenfranchised and vulnerable in the world, who are likely to suffer the most.
Many countries across the Global South, despite higher levels of poverty and lower rates of development, have made significant progress within their legal and policy frameworks, and programme implementation to ensure reduction in maternal mortality. This is because we value the lives of women, girls, and other persons who can get pregnant, and our policy choices are based on scientific evidence that show a direct correlation between prohibition of abortion and increase in unsafe abortions. Why hold these nations hostage to rolling back abortion access and replace them with unscientific, anti-abortion propaganda? How fair is it that the US foreign policy commands sacrifice of women’s rights and women’s lives as a condition for the inflow of foreign aid?
The policy and its chilling effect will directly impact SRHR access and service delivery in the national and local settings of the Global South. At the very least, we must expect an unprecedented dent in funding for reproductive health services and gender equality which will result in reduced comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and rights delivery including abortion services which will be hugely detrimental to women, girls, persons who can get pregnant, their families and communities. Whilst targeting the issue of abortion access, the “Global Gag Rule” also attacks access to modern methods of contraception, comprehensive sexuality education, reproductive technologies and screening, and treatment of reproductive cancers. Aid which is often-times termed ‘assistance’ for development, needs to assist development, especially to fulfill the health and rights of those most marginalised and facing oppressions. Policies such as these are archaic, destructive, and hinder progress and development for all.
