Members of the international development community are on the edge of their seats as they await the results of this year’s U.S. presidential election, which is expected to be a rematch between current President Joe Biden and his predecessor, Donald Trump.
Sexual and reproductive health rights advocates fear that an even more expanded version of the global gag rule — which bans U.S. health funding to foreign NGOs if they use their own non-US funds for abortion-related activities — could be put in place if Trump is victorious.
In addition to the loss of funding and services, advocates fear the long-term repercussions of the rule at a time when sexual and reproductive health rights are experiencing greater pushback globally.