How Does the Global Gag Rule Work?
Through USAID, the U.S. government provides family planning assistance including funds, training, contraceptive supplies (including condoms), and technical assistance, to NGOs in more than 60 countries around the world (USAID, 2006a). USAID often works with some of the largest and most effective family planning organizations in the developing world. The global gag rule is aimed at NGOs in other countries. It prohibits U.S. overseas development assistance for family planning from being provided to NGOs that use funding from any other source to perform abortion (in cases other than a threat to the life of a woman, rape, or incest); to provide counseling and referral for abortion; or to lobby to make abortion legal or more available in their own country. “Assistance” includes funds, commodities such as contraceptives, technical assistance, and training (USAID, 2001). The global gag rule applies regardless of the legal status of abortion in the NGO’s country. The global gag rule forces org
