The Dutch government has announced it will set up an international fund to support the abortion services round the world that will be affected by President Trump’s ‘global gag.’
In response, Lilianne Ploumen, the Dutch Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, has revealed she plans to set up a ‘well-financed’ international fund to support reproductive health and family planning organisations.
Upon entering office, one of the President’s first moves was to sign an executive order reinstating the Mexico City Policy (best known as the ‘global gag’ rule). The ban, which was introduced back in 1984 by then-president Ronald Reagan, prevents US money from being used to fund international health charities and organisations that provide abortion services or provide education about abortion – even if government dollars aren’t specifically being used for abortions.
The American government currently sends around $600 million a year to family planning charities around the world, but the Helms amendment of 1973 currently prevents US tax dollars from funding abortions. The ‘global gag’ will doubtless have a knock-on effect upon the reproductive health of women and girls in developing countries.
The Guardian reports that Ploumen is in talks with 15 to 20 countries and a number of charitable foundations to fill the $600 million funding gap created by the ‘global gag,’ with the aim being to support existing programmes run by the likes of the United Nations Population Fund, the International Planned Parenting Federation and Marie Stopes International.
Speaking to her government colleagues, Ploumen emphasised the ‘far reaching consequences’ of the Mexico City policy, ‘first of all, for all those women who have to make, if they want to have a child, a choice, but also for their husbands and children and society as a whole.’
‘Banning abortion does not lead to fewer abortions. It leads to more irresponsible practices in back rooms and more maternal deaths.’
Ploumen hopes to be able to arrange for funding within two to three weeks, telling The Guardian, ‘We need a bit of time for everyone to get organised, but I don’t want it to take six months. The funding is being stopped immediately, so the sooner the organisations have the security of knowing that their programmes can continue, the better.’
READ MORE: Thousands Take To Streets For Women's Marches Around The World