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| Countries to join forces to raise funds for safe abortions after Trump order | Countries to join forces to raise funds for safe abortions after Trump order |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| About 50 countries are to join forces to raise funds for safe abortions in the developing world, in the hope of plugging the gap left by Donald Trump’s reinstated “global gag rule”. | |
| The UK will send a minister to the She Decides conference in Brussels on Thursday, but it remains unclear whether the British government will announce a financial contribution. | The UK will send a minister to the She Decides conference in Brussels on Thursday, but it remains unclear whether the British government will announce a financial contribution. |
| Organisers hope to raise $600m (£487m) to compensate for the Trump administration’s ban on US funding of NGOs that provide abortion or information on the procedure to women in developing countries. | Organisers hope to raise $600m (£487m) to compensate for the Trump administration’s ban on US funding of NGOs that provide abortion or information on the procedure to women in developing countries. |
| “This is not a conference against the American administration; this is a conference for something,” Sweden’s deputy prime minister, Isabella Lövin, told the Guardian. | “This is not a conference against the American administration; this is a conference for something,” Sweden’s deputy prime minister, Isabella Lövin, told the Guardian. |
| “We are expressing our strong support for women’s rights, for the progress that has been made. Access to contraceptives and sexual reproduction is a vehicle for development and the eradication of poverty.” | “We are expressing our strong support for women’s rights, for the progress that has been made. Access to contraceptives and sexual reproduction is a vehicle for development and the eradication of poverty.” |
| In an executive order signed last month, Trump reinstated the global gag rule, a US aid policy Republican presidents since Ronald Reagan in 1984 have imposed but their Democrat counterparts have lifted. | In an executive order signed last month, Trump reinstated the global gag rule, a US aid policy Republican presidents since Ronald Reagan in 1984 have imposed but their Democrat counterparts have lifted. |
| Sweden’s international development minister cited evidence from the World Health Organization showing that, under George W Bush’s presidency, the rule increased abortions and maternal deaths from unsafe terminations. “This is something we can prevent,” she said. | Sweden’s international development minister cited evidence from the World Health Organization showing that, under George W Bush’s presidency, the rule increased abortions and maternal deaths from unsafe terminations. “This is something we can prevent,” she said. |
| Alexander De Croo, Belgium’s deputy prime minister, told the Associated Press: “This should not be a moment where we are taking steps back into the dark ages.” | Alexander De Croo, Belgium’s deputy prime minister, told the Associated Press: “This should not be a moment where we are taking steps back into the dark ages.” |
| Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands and Norway have pledged $10m each, with further contributions expected to be announced by other wealthy countries, including Sweden. | Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands and Norway have pledged $10m each, with further contributions expected to be announced by other wealthy countries, including Sweden. |
| The UK will be represented by the international development minister Rory Stewart. A government spokeswoman was unable to confirm whether he would announce any financial contribution from the UK. | The UK will be represented by the international development minister Rory Stewart. A government spokeswoman was unable to confirm whether he would announce any financial contribution from the UK. |
| The Department for International Development has previously described the UK as a global leader on family planning. It points to “a major international summit this summer to secure commitments that increase access to family planning services for women and girls in the world’s poorest and most fragile countries”. | The Department for International Development has previously described the UK as a global leader on family planning. It points to “a major international summit this summer to secure commitments that increase access to family planning services for women and girls in the world’s poorest and most fragile countries”. |
| Other wealthy countries are expected to announce donations. Canada’s minister of international development, Marie Claude Bibeau, said: “Women’s rights begin with their right to control their bodies. We should never take that away from them, especially for young adolescents. Canada is proud to stand with its partners and will always stand up for women’s rights everywhere.” | Other wealthy countries are expected to announce donations. Canada’s minister of international development, Marie Claude Bibeau, said: “Women’s rights begin with their right to control their bodies. We should never take that away from them, especially for young adolescents. Canada is proud to stand with its partners and will always stand up for women’s rights everywhere.” |
| Afghanistan, Chad and Ethiopia are among the developing countries sending representatives to the conference, where they are expected to give evidence on how funding for family planning makes a difference to women’s lives. | Afghanistan, Chad and Ethiopia are among the developing countries sending representatives to the conference, where they are expected to give evidence on how funding for family planning makes a difference to women’s lives. |
| Organisers have also expressed hope that US foundations may get involved by contributing funds. While the conference has been warmly welcomed by NGOs, some have voiced fears the money cannot be raised quickly enough to fill the shortfall left by Trump’s executive order. | Organisers have also expressed hope that US foundations may get involved by contributing funds. While the conference has been warmly welcomed by NGOs, some have voiced fears the money cannot be raised quickly enough to fill the shortfall left by Trump’s executive order. |
| Lövin expressed hope of hitting the target, but said Thursday’s conference was only the first step. | Lövin expressed hope of hitting the target, but said Thursday’s conference was only the first step. |
| The Swedish deputy prime minister made headlines last month when she appeared to parody Trump and the all-male lineup in the Oval Office that signed the global gag order. | The Swedish deputy prime minister made headlines last month when she appeared to parody Trump and the all-male lineup in the Oval Office that signed the global gag order. |
| Lövin, who is also environment minister, tweeted a picture of herself and female colleagues, as she signed Sweden’s climate law. | Lövin, who is also environment minister, tweeted a picture of herself and female colleagues, as she signed Sweden’s climate law. |
| But she brushed aside questions she was mocking Trump and his administration, saying: “The message was not that we were only women in that picture; the message was that we are taking leadership when it comes to tackling climate change. | But she brushed aside questions she was mocking Trump and his administration, saying: “The message was not that we were only women in that picture; the message was that we are taking leadership when it comes to tackling climate change. |
| “This was my staff and myself and my state secretaries and I was signing a bill and that’s all.” | “This was my staff and myself and my state secretaries and I was signing a bill and that’s all.” |