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HEALTH-US-POLITICS-ABORTION
Biden scraps ban on US funds for abortion counseling
WASHINGTON, Jan 29, 2021 (BSS/AFP) – President Joe Biden on Thursday
rescinded a ban on US aid money going to abortion counseling overseas,
risking political blowback on a highly divisive issue just days into his
administration.
On the eve of the anti-abortion movement’s annual March for Life, Biden
overturned the so-called Mexico City Policy of 1984, which bars US funding
for international non-profit organizations that offer abortion counseling or
referrals.
The move was part of a broad package of health-related measures by the new
Democratic president at a time when the country is reeling from Covid-19 and
grappling with a health care system that leaves millions of people uninsured.
“It is the policy of my administration to support women’s and girls’ sexual
and reproductive health and rights in the United States, as well as
globally,” the order that Biden signed said.
The restrictions on abortion-linked aid “undermine the United States’
efforts to advance gender equality globally by restricting our ability to
support women’s health and programs that prevent and respond to gender-based
violence,” it said.
Biden also ordered a review of rules under Donald Trump’s administration
that blocked government funding for family planning clinics in the United
States that refer women for abortions.
– UN funding –
Shortly after Biden’s action, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the
State Department was moving to make $32.5 million in aid available to the
United Nations Population Fund.
US support for the fund was cut off by the Trump administration based on
allegations, which the fund strongly denied, that it supported forced
sterilization and coerced abortions in China.
Blinken also said the United States will withdraw its name from the 2020
Geneva Consensus Declaration, a statement of opposition to abortion by more
than 30 countries.
“The United States is re-engaging multilaterally to protect and promote the
human rights of all women and girls, consistent with the long-standing global
consensus on gender equality and sexual and reproductive health and
reproductive rights,” Blinken said in a statement.
Biden has approached the abortion issue gingerly, rarely using the word
itself.
Abortion has been legal in the United States since a landmark 1973 Supreme
Court decision that guaranteed a woman’s “right to choose.”
Biden’s Democratic base largely supports abortion rights, and he has
consistently supported the 1973 high court ruling.
But he is also a devout member of the Catholic Church which is firmly
opposed to abortion.
Pressed last week on the new president’s abortion stance — particularly on
legislation known as the Hyde Amendment that would prevent federal funds from
being used by Americans to pay for abortion — White House spokeswoman Jen
Psaki declined to answer directly.
“I will just take the opportunity to remind all of you that he is a devout
Catholic and somebody who attends church regularly,” she told reporters.
– ‘Neo-colonial policy’ –
Biden signed the order just one day before the annual March for Life by the
anti-abortion movement.
The march usually brings tens of thousands to Washington but, due to the
Covid-19 pandemic, will be held mostly online this year.
“Funneling US tax dollars to abortion groups overseas is an abhorrent
practice that flies in the face of the ‘unity’ Joe Biden and (Vice President)
Kamala Harris promised to inspire,” said Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of
the anti-abortion group Susan B. Anthony List.
But numerous women’s health advocates came out in support of Biden’s move,
and called on him to do more to roll back other restrictions on abortion
services.
Serra Sippel, president of the Center for Health and Gender Equity, said
they were “thrilled” that Biden was to reverse what they called a cruel “neo-
colonial policy.”
But she said Biden needs to go further, getting US embassies and agencies
actively in support of the new policy.
“Global Health partners must be able to trust in US,” she said.
BSS/AFP/GMR/0932 hrs