FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE: |
CONTACT:
|
Bill
Barker |
| October 25, 2000 |
|
(202)
419-3420 |
Repeal of Global "Gag" Rule
Critical Step in Fighting Unplanned Pregnancy and Disease
Increased
International Family Planning Funding to Save Millions of Lives Worldwide
WASHINGTON, DC (October 25, 2000) Citing the fact that nearly 80 million
pregnancies worldwide each year are unplanned, Advocates for Youth's
President, James Wagoner, calls the repeal of the global "gag" rule
a "victory for women and children around the globe."
"The 'gag' rule not only restricts international family planning
organizations from providing safe abortions, but also restricts their
ability to provide critical family planning services that reduce the
need for abortions," said Wagoner. "I applaud Congress's refusal
to allow a strident conservative minority to highjack international family
planning by supporting policies that jeopardize the health and well-being
of women and children worldwide."
In effect since last year, the global "gag" rule prohibits
U.S. public funds from being distributed to international family planning
organizations that also use private funds to provide abortions or advocate
for better abortion laws. In addition to repealing the global "gag" rule,
the Foreign Operations Bill, passed today by the House and Senate, increases
funding for international family planning.
"Currently 46 million pregnancies worldwide end in abortion each
year. Increased funding for international family planning is a critical
step in reducing these numbers," said Wagoner.
While Wagoner applauds this increased funding, he warns that it is only
a first step in reducing unintended pregnancy and abortion.
"By restricting funding for family planning organizations, the
very politicians who oppose abortion have limited the most effective
and fundamental means of preventing abortion. How many lives have been
threatened in the year that the global "gag" rule was in effect?
Today's increase in funding will only begin to repair the damage that
has been done by the global "gag" rule," said Wagoner.
###
Note to Editors
and Producers: For more information or to set up an interview
with adolescent sexuality experts, please contact Bill Barker at
(202) 419-3420.
RETURN TO INDEX
OF PRESS RELEASES >>
|
Send this page to a friend