Ann mentioned in the Weekly Feminist Reader that President Elect Barack Obama's transition team has compiled a list of Bush administration actions that can be undone quickly - and that the Global Gag Rule is one of them.
...The new president is also expected to lift a so-called global gag rule barring international family planning groups that receive U.S. aid from counseling women about the availability of abortion, even in countries where the procedure is legal, said Cecile Richards, the president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America.
I just wanted to give this news item its own post, because - woo hoo! The Global Gag Rule, which was reinstated by President Bush on his first day in office, prohibits any international organization that receives U.S. funds from counseling women on abortion as an option, providing referrals, or discussing the dangers of unsafe abortions - even if the organization uses its own money to do so. The impact of the mandate has been deadly for women worldwide. About 70,000 women die every year from unsafe or illegal abortions - a number that could be significantly lowered by access to information and sexual health care.
So the importance of Obama potentially overturning the Global Gag Rule can't be overstated - women's lives are depending on it.
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I just woke up, did yoga and as always checked feministing first thing.
GOOD MORNING! Good Morning my wonderful international community that may some day soon have a voice about reproductive choice.
HURAH!
Woot woot! Get it Obama! I knew there was a reason I voted for you!
THIS IS WHY I VOTED FOR OBAMA.
Hurrah! A friend of mine saw Obama on the campaign trail in Seattle, and actually got close enough to ask him if he would overturn the Global Gag Rule on his first day in office. His answer then was yes. So glad to see it made the transition team priority list!
YAYE!!!!
now before I go reposting- is that 70,000 number for real!?!?
gad
The bigger event here is a shift in the way we feel about problems created in the past eight years. Having been angry, frustrated, and afraid for so long, it's amazing to see that one person in the right position can so easily change reality as we know it. We no longer have to worry about whether or not we'll lose our own access to abortion or Plan-B; for the first time in a long time, our rights over our body are SAFE.
While I applaud the policy changes he will make, I'm emotionally grateful for the sense of security I have in the new president and his drive to preserve my independence and autonomy.
DISCLAIMER: I know he's not perfect, and, yes, he will make mistakes, so you don't need to point that out. Allow us to savor our victories without anticipating the bad.
Agreed -- and I really hope he actually follows through on this (I can't see a reason to expect that he won't). I guess much of my brain is still sort of going "Wait, we can *do* that??" (Not so much Yes We Can! -- still in Yes We Can?? territory over here, heh)
I totally agree! I'm sick of people who feel the need to remind me over and over again that President Obama will be a human being who makes mistakes. I never expected to agree with the man on every single decision. But when he does make the right call it's cause to be happy about it! This is SUCH good news.
I'm just smiling. Can't help it.
: )
we have a president who gives me chills-- in a good way, for once.
Wow, that is so, so, so fantastic. I'm even more excited for Obama's presidency than I already was.
I'm just in shock at how good a president he's been already been...oh, going to be...going to be.
I was really concerned he was going to pull further to the right. Lordy I'm pleasantly surprised with his work thus far.
It is very cool that he is aware of these issues, and is on the right side of them.
I've got a crush on Obama...~
In all seriousness, I'm looking forward to seeing what Obama does when he gets sworn in.
And there is much rejoicing!
And much saving of lives.