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This morning, Dutch Minister Klever (Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation) announced significant budget cuts for organisations working globally to promote democracy, peace, stability, human rights, and health for women, girls, and LGBTQI+ people. These cuts threaten sexual and reproductive health and rights worldwide.
Minister Klever stated a more than 70% reduction for global civil society organisations. In a world where women’s, girls’, and LGBTQI+ rights are already under pressure, this choice is alarming. Earlier this year, the Dutch parliament affirmed that sexual health and rights should be a core priority in foreign policy, such as in the Global Health Strategy.
Dutch investments have saved millions of lives, providing essential healthcare, preventing unsafe abortions, and reducing maternal mortality. In 2024 alone, thanks to Dutch support, 8.5 million people gained access to modern contraception, averting over 900,000 unsafe abortions. These cuts would directly jeopardise this access for girls and women.
“For years, civil society organisations have built an effective network to advance sexual and reproductive health and rights worldwide”
Civil society organisations like Rutgers and their global partners are indispensable in these efforts. Collaboration based on equality, knowledge-sharing, and local partnerships is key to success. Rutgers combines its expertise in education, contraception, and safe abortion care with that of local organisations to create meaningful social impact. Significant budget cuts will severely endanger this work.
Marieke van der Plas, executive director, stated:
“This is terrible news for girls and women worldwide. They need support to maintain access to education, contraception, and safe abortion care so they can make informed decisions about their bodies and futures.”
For years, civil society organisations have built an effective network to advance sexual and reproductive health and rights worldwide, a network developed in partnership with the Dutch government and local entities. Now, these cuts threaten to dismantle this success, which is a serious concern. We urge the Dutch government and parliament to reconsider and protect these crucial rights for girls and women.
We are closely following the budget discussions this week and hope that the parliament will continue to advocate for women, girls, and LGBTQ+ individuals worldwide so they may live safe, healthy, and autonomous lives, making their own choices about their bodies and futures.
