This week, Advocates for Youth is joining dozens of our partner organizations in calling for a permanent repeal of the Global Gag Rule.

The Global Gag Rule is a dangerous U.S. policy that has been used to prevent foreign non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that receive U.S. funds from using their own, non-US funds to:

- provide legal abortion services
- advocate for abortion law reform in their own countries, and
- even provide accurate medical counseling or referrals regarding abortion.

Click here to ask your Senators and Representative to support a PERMANENT repeal of the Global Gag Rule!

Janine Kossen, Director, Public Policy

Last week, promising news broke about a decline in global maternal mortality over the past 28 years.  While this is indeed fantastic news and definitely a step in the right direction, the reality is that complications from pregnancy (including childbirth and unsafe abortion) are still the leading cause of death for young women aged 15-19.  Furthermore, the abovementioned report makes note that progress in reducing maternal mortality would have been even greater had it not been for HIV/AIDS, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, where the epidemic has taken a drastic toll on the lives of women, men, children, and youth. 

Fortunately, U.S. Representative Yvette Clarke (D-11^th NY) recognizes both the interconnectedness of health and human rights and the unique needs and power of global youth.  This week, she introduced The Global Sexual and Reproductive Health Act of 2010 (H.R. 5121), a groundbreaking piece of legislation that would fundamentally transform U.S. foreign assistance policy regarding sexual and reproductive health, bringing it in line with a rights-based approach. 

Urge your Representative to co-sponsor the Global Sexual and Reproductive Health Act!  

Two new funding opportunities for teen pregnancy prevention interventions have recently been announced. 

• Replication of Evidence-Based Programs (Tier 1)
• Research and Demonstration Programs (Tier 2)

Advocates for Youth’s National Support Center includes a number of helpful resources for organizations planning to apply, including tips for the application process, a general funding proposal template, and reviews of evidence-based programs.  Learn more

Learn more about these funding opportunities and how to get the application process started after the jump! 

by Nikki Serapio, Manager, New Media Strategies

******

UPDATE:  Governor Jim Doyle rejected the notion that teachers could be prosecuted for teaching sex education in Wisconsin.  "It's really an unusual argument to make, 'Follow the law and I'll prosecute you,'" Doyle said.

******

In a move meant to terrorize Wisconsin school teachers and scare administrators away from comprehensive sex ed programs, District Attorney Scott Southworth has threatened to press charges against sex ed instructors in Juneau County, Wisconsin. In a March 24 letter, Southworth issued a brazen ultimatum to the County's teachers, demanding that they end any plans to teach comprehensive sex education during the Fall 2010 school year and beyond. If the teachers refuse, Southworth has signaled that he will pursue criminal charges against them for contributing to the delinquency of a minor.