50 nations seek to counter US ban on family planning funds

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press


Raf Casert, Associated Press Updated 2:05 pm, Wednesday, March 1, 2017



BRUSSELS (AP) — Some 50 countries have signed up to attend a family planning conference in Brussels aimed at making up the gap left by President Donald Trump's ban on U.S. funding to groups linked to abortion, organizers said Wednesday.

The participants agreed to attend the conference scheduled for Thursday on short notice and will discuss using pledges from other nations and the private sector to "make sure that the impact on the field is completely taken away," Belgian Vice Premier Alexander De Croo said.

"This should not be a moment where we are taking steps back into the Dark Ages for women and girls," De Croo said.

Trump's decision, one of his first acts as president, withholds about half a billion dollars a year from international groups that perform abortions or provide information about abortions. Officials in many European nations and around the world say the move will hurt women and girls who need family planning most.

Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/medical/article/50-nations-to-meet-over-Trump-ban-on-family-10968505.php

[benld74]

1. 50 nations, apologies for our lack of leadership

[pat_k]

2. Beyond lack of leadership. Apologies for creating yet another humanitarian crisis

[DK504]

7. My apologies to the world for our mental breakdown

We honestl really thought this would never happen.

[littlemissmartypants]

3. BBC World News had a

Great piece on this tonight. Less birth control leads to more abortions. Period. Good to see other nations stepping up but disgusted my country has suddenly become a force of evil in the war on women worldwide. Reproduction rights terrorism, made in the USA.

[Nitram]

4. Nice to see them ponying up the cash.

Too bad it took a Trump to do that.

[muriel_volestrangler]

5. They already pay; it's just they'll have to pay more to make up for the USA dropping out

For instance, total contributions to the UNFPA were $979m; the US gave $76m of that and is stopping (even though UNFPA does not directly support or fund abortion; it just supports it being safe and accessible in countries where it's legal).

[NurseJackie]

6. We live in such a backward-thinking nation. It's embarrassing.