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5. 1990s-2000s The Gag Rule was rescinded in 1993 by the Clinton Administration.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 abortions 3 Globally 20 million unsafe abortions occur each year mostly in underserved countries 3 70,000 women die annually due to abortion complications throughout the world 3

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. 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.” The Basket of Life

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. Σ Global Gag Rule Global Gag Rule Future Past and Present Impact Global Disease Epidemics NGOs Women’s Reproductive Rights Family Planning Programs Helm’s Amendment (1973)

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/http://www.globalgagrule.org/ 2) The Global Gag Rule & HIV/AIDS from the Access Denied website: http://www.globalgagrule.org/http://www.globalgagrule.org/ 3) The Global Gag Rule & Maternal Deaths Due to Unsafe Abortion from the Access Denied website: http://www.globalgagrule.org/ http://www.globalgagrule.org/ 4) H.R. 2674 information: http://www.sierraclub.org/population/global_gag_rule/ 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.orgwww.globalgagrule.org 7) http://www.amsa.org/global/aids/wad.cfm