Reproductive health services

On Jan. 23, President Obama acted on two issues related to access to the full range of reproductive health services, including family planning. First, he repealed the “Global Gag Rule,” also known as the “Mexico City Policy,” and second, he restored funding to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

This global gag rule crippled many health-care clinics in poor, under served parts of the world.

The Mexico City Policy has been on-again, off-again U.S. government policy since 1984. It requires non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to refrain from offering abortion information or services in other countries if they wish to receive federal funding. This restriction applied even if the organization funded the services with its own money.

This global gag rule crippled many health-care clinics in poor, under served parts of the world. Sometimes these clinics were the only source of health care for nearby residents.

In a double standard, organizations in the United States were not bound by this restriction.

President Obama said it is clear that the provisions of the Mexico City Policy are unnecessarily broad and unwarranted under current law. “For the past eight years, they have undermined efforts to promote safe and effective voluntary family planning in developing countries,” he said. “For these reasons, it is right for us to rescind this policy and restore critical efforts to protect and empower women and promote global economic development.”

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton issued a statement on the same day endorsing the president’s action. “Rather than limiting women's ability to receive reproductive health services,” she said, “we should be supporting programs that help women and their partners make decisions to ensure their health and the health of their families.”

In the long run, abortions will be reduced, the spread of disease slowed, and lives will be saved.

UNFPA provides family planning and AIDS prevention services around the globe. UNFPA does not provide abortion services as some of its critics charged.

The United Methodist General Board of Church & Society enthusiastically welcomes both actions. As a result, monies and services will be available to assist people through the full-range of reproductive health services. In the long run, abortions will be reduced, the spread of sexually transmitted diseases will be slowed, and lives will be saved.

The statements by Obama and Clinton follow:

President Obama’s Statement
on Rescinding the Mexico City Policy

It is clear that the provisions of the Mexico City Policy are unnecessarily broad and unwarranted under current law, and for the past eight years, they have undermined efforts to promote safe and effective voluntary family planning in developing countries. For these reasons, it is right for us to rescind this policy and restore critical efforts to protect and empower women and promote global economic development.

I have no desire to continue this stale and fruitless debate.

For too long, international family planning assistance has been used as a political wedge issue, the subject of a back-and-forth debate that has served only to divide us. I have no desire to continue this stale and fruitless debate.

It is time that we end the politicization of this issue. In the coming weeks, my administration will initiate a fresh conversation on family planning, working to find areas of common ground to best meet the needs of women and families at home and around the world.

I have directed my staff to reach out to those on all sides of this issue to achieve the goal of reducing unintended pregnancies. They will also work to promote safe motherhood, reduce maternal and infant mortality rates and increase educational and economic opportunities for women and girls.

In addition, I look forward to working with Congress to restore U.S. financial support for the U.N. Population Fund. By resuming funding to UNFPA, the United States will be joining 180 other donor nations working collaboratively to reduce poverty, improve the health of women and children, prevent HIV/AIDS and provide family planning assistance to women in 154 countries.

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton Statement
on Repeal of the Mexico City Policy

President Obama's repeal of the global gag rule, which has prevented women around the world from gaining access to essential information and health-care services is a welcomed and important step taken during the first days of the administration.

Women must not be denied the right to plan their own families.

For the past seven years, this policy has made it more difficult for women around the world to gain access to essential information and health-care services. Rather than limiting women's ability to receive reproductive health services, we should be supporting programs that help women and their partners make decisions to ensure their health and the health of their families.

As I said in Beijing at the United Nations 4th World Conference on Women, women must not be denied the right to plan their own families. I look forward to working with the President, my colleagues in the administration, and the [non-governmental organizations] community to promote programs and policies that ensure women and girls have full access to health information and services.

Women’s Concerns

Through the Louise & Hugh Moore Population Project, the United Methodist General Board of Church & Society addresses issues specifically having an impact on women. Key issues of the project are HIV/AIDS, domestic violence, family planning and reproductive health, and human trafficking.

The Louise & Hugh Moore Population Project works collaboratively with other agencies and/or organizations on issues that affect women. Its partners include United Methodist Women, United Methodist General Commission on the Status and Role of Women, Women's Edge Coalition, Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, Religious Advocates Working Group, and International Family Planning Coalition.

More information about the project and GBCS’s activities is available at Women’s Concerns.

Women’s and Children’s Action Network

Linda Bales, director of the Louise and Hugh Moore Population Project, supervises an “Action Network” that provides legislative updates, educational resources and identifies opportunities to act on issues. She issues action alerts periodically through e-mail on such topics as domestic violence, population growth, women’s, health, human trafficking, child marriage and child labor.

Joining the Women’s and Children’s Action Network is free: go to umpower.org or click on My GBCS on the General Board of Church & Society Web site, www.umc-gbcs.org. You can also contact Donna Brandyberry, (202) 488-5641.

Linda Bales can be reached at (202) 488-5649.