Kenya: Insights Into How the US Abortion Gag Rule Affects Health Services in Kenya

analysis

The Mexico City Policy - often referred to as the "Global Gag Rule" - is a US government policy that requires non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that are not based in the US and that receive US global health assistance to certify that they will not provide, refer for, counsel on, or advocate for abortion as a method of family planning. The rule also applies to any non-US funding that the organisation may receive.

The policy was rescinded by President Obama in 2009 but then reinstated and expanded by President Trump in 2017. While prior iterations applied only to family planning assistance (US$575 million in 2016), Trump's new version extends the restrictions to nearly all US global health assistance - an estimated US$9.5 billion - which includes funding for HIV/AIDS, malaria, and maternal and child health. For example, it now means that an organisation that provides HIV care and treatment with US funding may not also provide safe abortion.

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