The Biden administration must reassert the U.S.’s leadership position as a human rights defender, reject harmful domestic and foreign policies, such as the Hyde, Helms Amendment and the global gag rule, and champion support for their permanent repeal.
Author: Anu Kumar
Anu Kumar is the president and CEO of Ipas, an international reproductive health and rights organization. She provides strategic leadership for Ipas teams in countries across Asia, Africa and the Americas.
The Helms Amendment: 47 Years of Denying U.S. Support for International Reproductive Health and Rights
The Biden-Harris administration offers some hope for international reproductive health, rights and justice—but unless the Helms Amendment is repealed, people in low-to-middle income countries will continue to be denied access to abortion services.
Another Egregious Attack on Reproductive Health by Trump Administration
John Barsa, administrator for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), has asked for all references to sexual and reproductive health to be removed from the UN’s Global Humanitarian Response Plan. Barsa claims the U.N. is using the pandemic to advance access to abortion by including it as an “essential” health service.
Here’s the thing: Abortion is essential health care —including during a pandemic.
Disgust, Stigma and the Politics of Abortion
Abortion is an emotionally charged issue—not just for those who oppose it. I find it disgusting that white men continue to believe that they have the knowledge, power and political capital to legislate a simple and safe medical procedure for women.