Our Bodies, Our Futures: Resisting the Gag Rule so SheDecides
23rd January 2025
By Karin Nilsson, Executive Director, SheDecides
Sonali Silva, Co-Chair of SheDecides Guiding Group
Memory Zonde-Kachambwa, Executive Director, FEMNET and Co-Chair of SheDecides Guiding Group
The new US republican administration is soon expected to reinstate the Mexico City Policy – known as the “Global Gag Rule”. This policy effectively signs the death warrants of thousands of women and girls across the globe, putting their health, dignity, dreams, and lives at grave risk.
The unjust policy, prohibits foreign non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and health care providers in low- and middle-income countries that rely on U.S. global health assistance, from providing or informing on safe abortion services, even with their own, non-U.S. funds.
History has repeatedly shown us the terrible consequences of this harmful policy which strips access to essential sexual and reproductive health care services for those who need it most.
The evidence is clear, this so-called “Protecting Lives in Global Health Assistance Policy” is not protecting the lives of women and pregnant people but rather leads to increased maternal mortality across the globe.
The Devastating Impact: Lives at Risk
By diverting crucial funding away from vital health programmes, the Global Gag Rule leaves a catastrophic gap in healthcare access for millions of women and young people worldwide.
When reinstated it will inevitably lead to a lack of access to contraception and maternal health care, with patients being forced to resort to unsafe abortions, many resulting in death or life changing injuries.
With the US as the largest contributor of global health assistance, the financial implications of this policy are severe. Now more than ever, governments in all countries, private sector and philanthropy, need to step up their financial investments to ensure that the health and lives of women, girls and young people, in all their diversity – is protected.
U.S. Interference: Undermining Global Health Efforts
The Global Gag Rule not only restricts access to essential healthcare but also imposes U.S. policy positions on the healthcare systems of other countries. This overreaching policy censors healthcare providers and denies patients their fundamental right to accurate and evidence-based information about their health.
Its return is at a time where emboldened anti-rights groups are gaining greater political influence and actively pushing their regressive ideologies across the globe. Ruthless in their mission to rollback human rights and the reproductive rights of women and girls worldwide, it reflects a broader patriarchal agenda that seeks to limit women's decision making and equal participation in society.
We have already seen the signing of damaging executive orders that will compromise the rights and health of millions, including the U.S. withdrawal from the World Health Organization and the implementation of policies that recognise only two sexes.
A Movement United: Resisting Rollback on the Right to Decide
While these policies represents a devastating setback, the sexual and reproductive rights movement is strong and resilient.
SheDecides remains resolute in its mission: working towards a world where every woman, girl, and young person – in all their diversity - can make decisions about their bodies, lives and futures, free from violence, stigma, and fear.
By strengthening alliances across movements and between health care providers, youth leaders, civil society organizations, researchers, donors and progressive governments - we will overcome this challenge together and continue to advance the trajectory of abortion rights progress that we are witnessing around the world.
The time is now for decisive action. Strong political leadership, increased financial support, and innovative collaborations are essential to advance the health of all and ensure that global commitments translate into tangible results.
Let's come together to stand with her, so she can make the decisions only she should make. And that is what we will do - to build a world where SheDecides. Without question.
Karin Nilsson, Executive Director, SheDecides
Sonali Silva, SheDecides Guiding Group Co-Chair
Memory Zonde-Kachambwa, Executive Director, FEMNET and SheDecides Guiding Group Co-Chair