The US Mexico city policy: brief history and impact on women's health and beyond

• Author: Jeney, Petra; Cotroneo, Clara
• Pages: 12-17

IPOL | Policy Department for Citizens’ Rights and Constitutional Affairs

12PE 621.927

THE USMEXICO CITY POLICY: BRIEF HISTORY ANDIMPACT ON

WOMEN’S HEALTH AND BEYOND

1.1.The US Mexico City Policy: historical developments and content

Recently, in 2019, the US Secretary of State has announced the expansion of the Mexico City Policy

(MCP), better known amongstits critics as the Global GagRule (GAG/GGR). ThisUS policyhad been

reinstated by the US administration in 2017to block US fundsto organizationsor groupsthatperform

abortion services, provide information about abortion,or advocate forabortion rights. Through its

latestamendments of 2019, the new policy also blocks fundingto organizations that, though not

directly involved in any of the three activities listed above,support other organizations engaged in the

provision of abortion services or pro-abortion advocacy. This studyopens bypresenting a concise, yet

comprehensive overview of the historical developmentsof the US MCP. In order to fully appreciate the

context in which thishas been reinstated (Sections 1.2) and its impact on organizations, communities

and individuals globally (Sections 1.3), it is usefulto first understand whatthe policy entails, how it is

formulatedand which organizations and groups it affects.Furthermore, as the negative impact of the

MCP on the delivery of essential services waspartlydue to the vagueness of its formulation, this

introduction hopefully clarifies some aspec ts of its content and applicability.

In January 2017, US President reinstated the Mexico City Policy (MCP), also referred to as theGlobal Gag

Rule. The 2017 Gagis a policy that governs US foreign aid, by puttinga ban on US funding to foreign

organizations or groups that perform, support or advocatefor abortion. In essence, the US GAG/GGR

(re)directs US funding away from organizations involved in one, or more, of the following activities:

•Provide/performabortion services;

•Provide advice and/or information about abortion services;

•Provide referrals for abortion;

•Lobby or advocate for the liberalization and non-criminalization of abortion;

•Campaignfor abortionas a method for family planning;

•Perform or support coercive abortion or involuntary sterilization.

In practice, the policy prevents the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) from

providing foreign aid funds to international organizations and groups providing abortionrelated

services and information.1The policy admits exceptions tofunds provisionsin the following cases:

•When abortion services are offered to women whose pregnancyresults from sexual violence

or familyincest;

•When the pregnancy puts the mother’s life at risk;

•When the service is provided to treat injuries or illness caused by illegal abortion;

•When a pregnant woman has decided to have a legal abortion and the family planning

counsellorbelieves that, following the code of ethics of the medical profession of his/her

country, they should provide the woman with information on where to access legal and safe

abortion services.

1 Presidential Document by the Execut ive Office of the President on 03/29/2001, availabl e at

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2001/03/29/01-8011/restoration-of-the-mexico-city-policy