Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) condemns the Trump Administration’s recent reinstatement of the Mexico City Policy, more commonly known as the Global Gag Rule, as well as the US government’s support of the so-called Geneva Consensus Declaration.
The Global Gag Rule prevents organizations abroad from using their own non-US government funds to provide or advocate for safe abortion care as a condition to receive US global health assistance. This includes direct services, as well as information, counseling, and referrals, even in countries where abortion is legal. When the policy was last in place from 2017 to 2021, critical health programs were disrupted and suspended in low- and middle-income countries.
Health care providers should not be forced to navigate political considerations and complexities before providing patients with essential and lifesaving sexual and reproductive health services.
Rachel Milkovich, global health policy specialist at MSF USA
"There are deadly consequences anytime access to sexual and reproductive health care is restricted," said MSF USA CEO Avril Benoît. “In the countries where MSF works, our staff see the lifesaving impact of comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services—and we have seen patients who have died or suffered life-altering injuries because they were denied access to care. In emergency cases where urgent care is needed, delays in access to safe abortion care pose substantial risks to patients’ health and wellbeing. While MSF stands committed to ensuring people have access to essential medical services, we can't do it alone. Across the world, we work closely with other health providers who are now essentially banned from doing their jobs and providing patients with essential information, referrals, and direct services."