The Population Council applauds the recent executive action of the United States (U.S.) Government to rescind the Mexico City Policy, to resume funding to the United Nations Population Foundation (UNFPA), and to restore the U.S.’s relationship with the World Health Organization (WHO). These are essential steps toward advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) globally.
Often referred to as the “Global Gag Rule,” the Mexico City Policy denies foreign nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) that receive U.S. government global health assistance the right to use their own, non-U.S. funds to provide information, referrals, or services for safe, legal abortion, or to advocate for the legalization of abortion. At a minimum, the policy has required the renegotiation of contracts and caused delays and disruptions to ongoing life-saving projects.
The Population Council is committed to advancing and actualizing sexual and reproductive health and rights around the world. In 2020, the Population Council joined nearly 100 organizations to endorse the Blueprint for Sexual and Reproductive Health, Rights, and Justice, a proactive policy agenda to advance sexual and reproductive health in the United States and around the world. Aligned with one of the Blueprint’s core principles, the Population Council remains committed to continuing to “ensure research and innovation advance sexual and reproductive health, rights and justice.” The Council also recently joined FP2030 – a partnership we committed to nearly a decade ago — in celebrating progress over the past eight years toward a shared vision that “all women, no matter where they live, should have access to lifesaving contraceptives.”
The Population Council looks forward to the upcoming launch of the new FP2030 commitment making process and our continued work with partners around the world to generate and share the important evidence the world needs to inform policies and programs that improve health and protect human rights.