"It is clear that the provisions of the Mexico City Policy are
unnecessarily broad and unwarranted under current law, and for
the past eight years, they have undermined efforts to promote
safe and effective voluntary family planning in developing
countries. For these reasons, it is right for us to rescind this
policy and restore critical efforts to protect and empower women
and promote global economic development." President Obama,
January 24, 2009 What is the Global Gag Rule? The Global Gag
Rule denies family planning funds to any foreign nongovernmental
organization that uses its own (non-U.S.) money to provide legal
abortion services or counseling, gives referrals on safe
abortion options, provides facts about the consequences of
unsafe abortion, or participates in public debate, no matter how
informal, that might improve access to safe services. The Gag
Rule does not, however, prohibit speech against abortion. The
policy applies even if abortion is permitted by local laws, and
even if organizations use no