In 2001, the US imposed a gag order on abortion. They cut funding to any International organization that provided abortions (directly or indirectly) or encouraged women to seek them. Because of this policy, the International Planned Parenthood Foundation has had to close dozens of its clinics due to its refusal to sign the order. To help IPPF, England has pledged about 6.8 Million Dollars (3 Million Pounds) in aid to help provide safe abortions in developing nations. The US Administration, on President George W. Bush's first day in office, reinstated the Mexico City Policy, also known as the Global Gag Rule. This policy prevents foreign organizations from receiving US funding for their reproductive health work if they work directly or indirectly on abortion-related activities, with the exception of post-abortion care. The result of this policy is more unwanted pregnancies, more unsafe abortions and more maternal and child deaths – particularly affecting women who are young, poor or vulnerable.

Not only does the IPPF provide abortions to women in developing countries, they also provide reproductive health care and education to women in those countries. They educate women of all ages about HIV/AIDs, women’s health and other women’s reproductive rights. They provide access to health care adolescents who would otherwise receive none. By providing safe care to women who seek it, they hope to lower the related mortality rate of women by 75%. About 600,000 women die every year due to pregnancy related causes and the World Health Organization attributes about 80,000 of those to unsafe abortions.

America is supposed to be a progressive nation that the world looks to set the standard of freedom and choice in the world. We are supposed to be advocates for women and their rights, yet, we are falling behind. Luckily for us, England has stepped up to the plate to pick up where we have fallen behind. The more I look at America, the more I see our rights being cut off. When Roe v Wade went into effect, we saw am 85% drop in deaths due to unsafe abortions. This means that people will seek them even if they aren’t legal and even if they are dangerous.

It is the same world wide. I am glad to see that at least one country realizes this. It’s just too bad I’m not living in that country.