Thread by @RewireNewsGroup

This week a coalition of advocates urged action on the Global HER Act, which members of Congress reintroduced earlier this year and would overturn the global gag rule.

Let’s dive into what the gag rule is and why advocates are saying #EndGagNow

THREAD:

The global gag rule prohibits federal funding for foreign nongovernmental organizations that provide abortion services or counseling—or even advocate for the decriminalization of abortion or expansion of services.

“Study after study has demonstrated that the neocolonialist global gag rule devastates health-care access for people around the world, especially those who already face systemic barriers to care.” —@dawnlaguens of @PPact

Like its domestic counterpart, the Hyde Amendment, which bans federal funding for abortion through programs like Medicare and Medicaid, the global gag rule singles out abortion as distinct from other care.

Abortion is health care, period.

The global gag rule was significantly expanded under the Trump administration and has had devastating effects on global health.

We looked into the harmful effects of those changes here: rewirenewsgroup.com/article/2020/0…

We also digged into how the global gag rule’s restrictions go beyond abortion—to comprehensive sex education, which is critical to ensure people lead healthy and empowered lives: rewirenewsgroup.com/article/2019/0…

Advocates say repealing the Global HER Act would ensure people around the world have access to the health care they need.

Earlier this year, Jamie Manson of @Catholic4Choice called on @POTUS to support the Global HER Act: rewirenewsgroup.com/article/2021/0…

Considering @POTUS recently omitted the Hyde Amendment from his budget, there may be a reason to be optimistic about the Global HER Act.

But it’ll need support from lawmakers like @Sen_JoeManchin and @SenatorSinema, which means advocates still have work ahead of them.

For more on the efforts to overturn the global gag rule, abortion access in the United States and abroad, and how the Biden administration is addressing these issues, continue to follow us here on Twitter.