The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has issued the first official guidance for implementation of the Mexico City Policy, also known as the “global gag rule.”
The roll-out of the standard provisions, issued Friday, stipulates that any non-U.S. NGO “will not furnish any assistance for family planning” in USAID-recipient countries, or support other organizations that do so. The document also details steps NGOs must take to certify their acceptance of this deal and the consequences — likely termination of U.S. funding — that can result from violating the order.
These provisions effectively make the global gag rule operational for family planning awards under USAID, according to the reproductive health care group PAI. That means that any organization offering legal abortion services — or any information about abortions — will have to choose between this work and often vital U.S. funds.
About the author
Amy Liebermanamylieberman
Amy Lieberman is the U.N. Correspondent for Devex. She covers the United Nations and reports on global development and politics. Amy previously worked as a freelance reporter, covering the environment, human rights, immigration, and health across the U.S. and in more than 10 countries, including Colombia, Mexico, Nepal, and Cambodia. Her coverage has appeared in the Guardian, the Atlantic, Slate, and the Los Angeles Times. A native New Yorker, Amy received her master’s degree in politics and government from Columbia’s School of Journalism.
