Repealing the Global Gag Rule Is Only the First Step

By Patty Skuster, AlterNet. Posted January 13, 2009.

It does not have to be this way. A 1994 policy interpretation by USAID stated that the Helms Amendment permits funding for abortion in cases of rape, incest, and danger to the life of the woman. But USAID has yet to fund any programs or services that meet these conditions.  Annual foreign aid appropriations bills specify that the Helms Amendment should not prohibit providing information or counseling about all pregnancy options, and this also has never been implemented -- indeed the Global Gag Rule has undermined this condition.

Only Congress can repeal the abortion ban, although President-elect Obama certainly has signaled his opposition to bans on public funds for safe abortion care.  The wording of the Helms Amendment does give the next president the opportunity to request USAID to issue guidance on what activities are permissible under the Helms Amendment.  Such activities would include but are not limited to:  creating awareness of unsafe abortion as a public health problem, equipping providers with appropriate technology, training providers to provide legal abortion under certain circumstances and providing abortion information, counseling, and referrals.

Millions of women have died of unsafe abortions in the 35 years since the Helms Amendment was enacted, and tens of millions more have suffered injuries and disabilities due to complications. The end of the Global Gag Rule will begin a new era of U.S. foreign policy that will improve women's health and lives.  But the Helms Amendment will remain a major impediment to efforts by governments, advocates and organizations to ensure that the world's poorest do not have to face unsafe abortion.   Even with Helms in place, through new and clarifying guidance, the administration can lessen its harm, comply with U.S. international commitments, and save lives of the world's poorest women.

See more stories tagged with: abortion, ngos, global gag rule, helms amendment, international aid

Liked this story? Get top stories in your inbox each week from Reproductive Justice and Gender! Sign up now »