More Than A Magazine, A Movement
The global gag rule not only prohibits U.S. foreign aid for abortion care; it also prevents foreign organizations from using their own, non-U.S. funds to provide abortion services, information, counseling, referrals or advocacy. Since its creation in 1984, the policy has been repeatedly issued by Republican presidents and rescinded by Democratic presidents.
Last month, the Supreme Court of the United States heard arguments in a case that could set off a new era of abortion bans across much of the country. December also marked the start of President Biden’s Democracy Summit.
Yes, the U.S. faces an unprecedented crisis for the right to abortion. Before its next Democracy Summit, the Biden administration should make a real commitment to ending all anti-abortion policies that cause the U.S. to fall short of its democratic aspirations.
As leaders from around the world gather in New York for the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly to discuss urgent problems, the U.N. Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights has a message for the United States: New abortion restrictions in Texas violate women’s fundamental rights.
On the evening of July 28, the House of Representatives adopted a State Department, Foreign Operations and Related Programs Appropriations bill for fiscal year 2022 that includes a multitude of funding and policy provisions that would be tremendous advancements for global sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR) if enacted into law.
Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.) re-introduced the Support UNFPA Funding Act, which reaffirms the United States’ commitment to the United Nations Population Fund and gender equality around the world and authorizes an annual contribution to the UNFPA for five years when passed. With commitments from the Biden administration and previous bipartisan support from Senators Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Collins (R-Maine), not only can the act pass the House of Representatives—it is likely to have a companion bill pass the Senate as well.
“State Department reporting on violations of reproductive rights should not be subject to whiplash between the policies of the occupants of the White House. Congress has an important role to ensure that the U.S. is consistently and unbiasedly reporting on the rights violations that impact women around the world, without political interference.”
Katherine Clark’s Reproductive Rights Are Human Rights Act would require the State Department include reporting on contraception and abortion access, STD rates and prevention efforts, maternal health, and rates and causes of pregnancy-related injuries and death, including unsafe abortions.
“The time has come,” Representative Jan Schakowsky, who re-introduced the Abortion is Health Care Everywhere Act, said. “Abortion is health care and the Helms Amendment now has got to go.”
Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) has reintroduced landmark legislation to repeal the Helms Amendment. As the president of Catholics for Choice, I am urging President Biden to center his Catholic upbringing and support this bill.
“UNFPA’s work is essential to the health and well-being of women around the world and directly supports the safety and prosperity of communities around the globe, especially in the context of the global COVID-19 pandemic.”
In this week’s edition we’re bringing you the most up-to-date information on the new, more contagious variants of the coronavirus, a look at the challenges to vaccine distribution, and as always, a rundown of the current wins and losses in the battle to protect reproductive rights.
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.
