Don't Say the A Word

After writing about his Global Gag Rule implementation earlier on in this semester, I had been waiting for his first big move. He stuck to his word and cut the funding from the first organization to violate his rules on abortion: the United Nations Population Fund. Monday, the United States funding for this organization was cut by the Trump administration. The funds, allocated to over 155 countries, serve as the leading provider of family planning services in the world. Trump’s reasoning for withholding 32.5 million is this: the Population Fund “supports or participates in the management of a program of coercive abortion or involuntary sterilization,” as the State Department’s Bureau of Legislative Affairs put it. UNFPA is accused of supporting a Chinese government family planning program that performs unwanted abortions and sterilizations, however the UN agency claims this is not true. Without any real evidence in support of these claims, it is unjust to cut the funds for maternal and reproductive health. With the withdrawal of these funds, Trump is appealing to the “Kemp-Kasten Amendment,” which bans the funding of any organization or program that is deemed in support or participation in managing a “program of coercive abortion or involuntary sterilization.” His actions will have a grave impact around the world. This is a major blow to reproductive services worldwide, as the largest international provider has now lost all United States funding. The impact this funding has on health services is irreplaceable. In 2016, American funds prevented over 300,000 pregnancies, stopped 100,000 unsafe abortions and provided access to contraception for nearly one million people. Without the funds provided by our country, will other countries step in to fill our place? President Trump’s decision to get rid of this funding was his first major smack in the face to all family planning services and supporters. What will this mean for the future of reproductive health care around the world? UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric voiced his concern that the loss of funds “could have devastating effects on the health of vulnerable women and girls and their families around the world.”

1. Sengupta, S., & Gladstone, R. (2017, April 03). Trump Cuts Off Funding for U.N. Agency That Supports Contraception. Retrieved April 7, 2017, from https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/03/world/asia/rex-tillerson-north-korea-nikki-haley.html?_r=0

2. Aizenman, N. (2017, April 04). Citing Abortions In China, Trump Cuts Funds For U.N. Family Planning Agency. Retrieved April 7, 2017, from http://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2017/04/04/522040557/citing-abortions-in-china-trump-cuts-funds-for-u-n-family-planning-agency