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Summary: Rutgers calls on the international community to come together and take action to support the health and rights of millions of women and girls affected by the Global Gag Rule.
Less than a week into Donald Trump’s second term, he reinstated the Global Gag Rule. With a single signature, this policy threatens the health and rights of millions of women and girls worldwide, denying them access to safe abortion care and forcing many into life-threatening situations. Rutgers calls on the international community to unite against this harmful policy and to take action to safeguard the health, rights, and choices of women and girls around the world.
Agonising dilemma
The Global Gag Rule (also known as the Mexico City Policy) prohibits U.S. global health funding to organisations that provide care or information on safe abortion. This restriction applies even when those services are funded by other resources. The U.S. is the largest contributor to global health funding and the consequences will be devastating: the closure of clinics, restricted access to contraception, the loss of life-saving healthcare and a rise in unsafe abortions.
As witnessed during Trump’s first term (2017 – 2021), this policy deprives millions of women and girls worldwide of vital support, forcing many to resort to unsafe alternatives that jeopardise their health. The Global Gag Rule is not an isolated policy, but a key element of a broader anti-abortion agenda outlined in Project 2025 – a roadmap devised by ultra-conservative U.S. groups aimed at shaping harmful policies both in the U.S. and globally. With this agenda gaining momentum, the scope of the Global Gag Rule could be drastically expanded in the coming years.
Health organisations worldwide face an agonising dilemma. Complying with the Global Gag Rule restricts the reproductive health services organisations can provide, limiting them to basic health services. If they don’t comply, they lose crucial U.S. funding, reducing women’s access to essential healthcare worldwide. This rule forces health organisations to choose between limited services and financial survival, both of which substantially hinder their ability to provide critical healthcare.
Taking a stance against the conditions of the Global Gag Rule
“It is unacceptable that this policy denies the freedom to choose safe abortion care worldwide, leading to life-threatening situations and unnecessary suffering,” says Marieke van der Plas, executive director at Rutgers and SheDecides champion. “While Rutgers is not a recipient of U.S. health-funding, we would choose not to comply with the conditions of the Global Gag Rule if we were. At the same time, we recognise the difficulties and challenges this decision may present for other organisations.”
Guy Martial Mendo Ze, programme coordinator at CAMNAFAW in Cameroon, states: “CAMNAFAW did not sign the Global Gag Rule in 2017, resulting in the loss of our U.S.-funded programme. Although we suffered financially at the time, we will refuse to sign it again this time. We remain true to our commitment to women and vulnerable and marginalised populations in Cameroon, particularly when it comes to their sexual health, which includes access to safe abortion care. There is a real and pressing need to improve women’s access to sexual and reproductive health services in Cameroon. Good steps have already been made, and we are dedicated to continuing to drive and support this progress.”
Defying division by building strong alliances
Defying division means more than rejecting harmful policies—it requires building strong alliances to actively counteract the effects of the Global Gag Rule. Despite the challenges, there is a growing movement of organisations and advocates refusing to capitulate to policies that deepen divisions and disproportionately harm women and girls worldwide. Rutgers calls on the international community to further strengthen alliances and collaborate to safeguard the rights and health of women and girls.
“Everyone should have the right to decide over their own body and health, without fear or danger. By uniting around these shared values, we can build partnerships that resist the policies that seek to divide us.”
Karin Nilsson, Executive Director of SheDecides, highlights the resilience of the reproductive rights movement, emphasising the power of global solidarity and collaboration to advance abortion rights, even in the face of significant setbacks: “While this policy represents a significant setback, the reproductive rights movement is strong and resilient. We stand united across the globe, bound by our shared belief in the fundamental right of all people to decide about their bodies, lives, and futures, without question. By strengthening alliances across movements and between health care providers, youth leaders, civil society organisations, researchers, donors and progressive governments – we will overcome this challenge together and continue to advance the trajectory of abortion rights progress that we are witnessing around the world.”
These global challenges require a coordinated and urgent response. Rutgers calls for solidarity and action, urging governments, donors, private foundations and international organisations to step forward and invest in the health and rights of women and girls globally, including access to safe abortion care.
Solidarity and action: steps you could take
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Get the facts and share them
Understand the full impact of the Global Gag Rule—its scope, implications, and how it affects global health and rights. Share reliable resources and updates within your organisation and with trusted allies to build a unified response.
Reliable sources are:
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Foster collaboration
Reach out to organisations outside the SRHR movement. LGBTQI+ groups, women’s rights advocates, and HIV organisations will also feel the effects of this pushback. Respect each other’s organisational constraints while seeking compassionate ways to collaborate and support one another. Together, we are stronger and more resilient.
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Celebrate progress
Highlight and amplify the progress achieved in expanding access to safe abortion care in recent years. This reminds us that gains are possible, even in the face of setbacks.
Q&A
Questions and answers on the reinstatement of the Global Gag Rule
Terms like the ‘Global Gag Rule’ or ‘Project 2025’ are everywhere, but what do they actually mean? Read our Q&A to find out.
