FOREIGN AID AND THE MEXICO CITY POLICY

Motion Text

That this House notes with concern the reinstatement of the Global Gag Rule by the new US President, Donald Trump; recognises the Global Gag Rule, otherwise known as the Mexico City Policy, requires that any overseas organisation receiving US aid not have anything to do with abortion; acknowledges that this policy negatively affected family planning, HIV services, maternal and child health and anti-malarial programmes in 20 developing countries in Africa, Asia and the Middle East during the Bush administration, from 2001 to 2009; reiterates the wishes of people across the UK for the Government to commit to ensuring fair and equal rights for all regardless of gender, race and sexual orientation; and urges the Government to guarantee that the 0.7 per cent foreign aid target will not be dependent on conditions that limit a woman's right to autonomy over her reproductive choices.