US “global gag” anti-abortion rule a major setback for women’s health, say MEPs

MEPs will debate US President Donald Trump i’s reinstatement of the “global gag” rule, which obliges US-funded foreign NGOs to certify that they will not perform or actively promote abortion, with Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid Christos Stylianides i on Tuesday at 15.00.

The an executive order banning international NGOs that receive US funding from providing abortion services or offering information about abortions, was signed by Mr Trump on 23 January 2017.

The US is the largest donor to global health efforts, providing nearly $3 billion towards health efforts through the United States Agency for International Development (USAid).

In response to President Trump's decision, Dutch trade and development cooperation minister Lilianne Ploumen i launched the "She Decides" initiative, to build an international coalition and fund to sustain family planning services. More than 59 countries attended its 3 March conference in Brussels, co-organised with Belgium, Sweden and Denmark, which raised €180 million.

You can watch the plenary debate via EP Live, and EbS+.

REF. : 20170309IPR65844