More About the Global Gag Rule! In poor, developing countries, complications of pregnancy, childbirth and unsafe abortion remain a leading cause of death and illness among women. More than 75,000 women die each year from complications of unsafe abortion. Yet the Global Gag Rule, a U.S. policy that prevents family planning organizations in other countries from providing vital, lifesaving services, denies resources to health care providers who counsel women on the full range of reproductive health options. Just two days after taking office, President George W. Bush issued an executive order to implement the Global Gag Rule. Specifically, under the order, foreign family planning agencies may not receive U.S. assistance if they provide abortion services, even if they pay for these services with their own funds. This also applies if they only counsel women on the full range of reproductive health options available or lobby to make or keep abortion legal in their own country. The Global Gag Rule doesn't just restrict what countries do with funds received from the U.S.; it restricts what they do and say with all of their funds. And women around the world pay the price every minute of every day. In Kenya, five family planning clinics had to shut down because of the Global Gag Rule, and thousands of women are unable to access contraception, gynecologic and obstetric care, or even counseling and testing for HIV/AIDS. Here are three reasons why reversing the Global Gag Rule will help save women's lives, improve women's health and increase women's economic productivity: There will be a significant decrease in abortions. Renewed funding in family planning services as a result of lifting the Global Gag Rule will allow more women to access contraceptive services and lead to fewer unwanted pregnancies and abortions. More women will have access to comprehensive medical care. Reversing the Global Gag Rule will mean that more women will be able to access the full range of reproductive health care as comprehensive health care providers will not fear losing critical U.S. funding. Women will be better able to provide for their families. Because many women are their families' primary providers, a woman's ability to work is crucial, and hinges upon her health and ability to control her fertility. Ending the Global Gag Rule will allow more women to lead healthier lives and in turn be better able to engage in productive economic activity. WHY ACT NOW? Last month at the March for Women's Lives in Washington D.C., more than a million people marched in support of women's rights. We must continue to build upon that momentum by telling policymakers that U.S. family planning policies should benefit women and all the people they are intended to serve, not punish women for exercising their right to reproductive health services. Sources: Population Action International, Global Gag Rule Impact Project, Planned Parenthood.