Canada spending $650-million on reproductive rights, including fighting global anti-abortion laws

Canada spending $650-million on reproductive rights, including fighting global anti-abortion laws
by Geoffrey York and Michelle Zilio
JOHANNESBURG and OTTAWA — The Globe and Mail
Published Wednesday, Mar. 08, 2017

In a sharp reorientation of Canada’s foreign-aid strategy, the Trudeau government plans to spend $650-million on sexual and reproductive health and rights worldwide – a move that could see Canada paying for a battle against anti-abortion laws in dozens of countries.

The three-year plan, announced by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Wednesday as he marked International Women’s Day, would finance a range of global programs, including contraception, reproductive health, legal abortion, sexuality education and advocacy work.

Abortion is illegal or severely restricted by law in an estimated 125 countries worldwide, mostly in Africa, Latin America, South Asia and the Middle East. But under the new plan, Canada could pay for advocacy groups to challenge those laws.

Continued at source: Globe & Mail: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-announces-650-million-for-sexual-and-reproductive-health/article34237503/


UK fails to contribute as donors unite to bridge US ‘global gag’ funding shortfall

UK fails to contribute as donors unite to bridge US 'global gag' funding shortfall

As countries pledge a total of €181m to fill void left by Trump administration’s funding ban, UK highlights existing commitments on family planning

Jennifer Rankin in Brussels and Jessica Elgot in London
Thursday 2 March 2017

The British government failed to join other donors in pledging millions of dollars to an international fund aimed at filling the gap left by Donald Trump’s reimposition of the “global gag rule”.

At a conference in Brussels on Thursday attended by delegates from 50 countries, pledges were made totalling €181m (£155m) to fund family planning and reproductive health services in low-income countries. Organisers hope to counter Trump’s ban on US aid to overseas groups that provide abortion or abortion advocacy, one of the US president’s first acts in the White House.

Countries including Canada, Sweden and Finland lined up to announce pledges, while Britain’s minister at the talks presented existing spending commitments.

Continued at source: The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2017/mar/02/uk-donors-unite-us-global-gag-rule-shortfall-trump-she-decides-conference-brussels


As U.S. tightens abortion access and funding, Canada expands it

As U.S. tightens abortion access and funding, Canada expands it
Terri Coles
Yahoo Canada News
February 21, 2017

With funding for a Planned Parenthood initiative and a commitment to increase funding for reproductive health initiatives overseas, Canada is setting itself apart from the Trump administration in its support for safe and legal abortion access.

In an interview with The Canadian Press, Status of Women Minister Maryam Monsef said denying access to a full range of reproductive services — including abortion — is a form of violence against women.

Continued at source: Yahoo news: https://ca.news.yahoo.com/as-u-s-tightens-abortion-access-and-funding-canada-expands-it-203738484.html


Canada to up foreign aid for women’s health in face of U.S. cuts

Canada to up foreign aid for women's health in face of U.S. cuts
By Eric DuVall
Jan. 28, 2017

Canadian leaders said they are prepared to increase international aid for women's health programs in the wake of a decision by U.S. President Donald Trump to cut $600 million in funding over his administration's opposition to abortion.

The announcement by Canadian International Development Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau came on Friday, the same day thousands of anti-abortion protesters flooded the National Mall in Washington for the annual March for Life protest. Trump signaled his "full support" for the marchers and dispatched Vice President Mike Pence and adviser Kellyanne Conway to address the gathering.

[continued at link]
Source, UPI: http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2017/01/28/Canada-to-up-foreign-aid-for-womens-health-in-face-of-US-cuts/3631485650539/


Canada considering global fund to counter Trump abortion directive

by Michelle Zilio AND Geoffrey York

The Globe and Mail
Published Friday, Jan. 27, 2017

International Development Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau says Canada will increase its funding for global sexual and reproductive rights, possibly through a safe-abortion fund announced by the Netherlands this week that was in response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s order banning U.S. funding for any organizations that mention abortion.

Speaking with Dutch Minister of Foreign Trade and Development Co-operation Lilianne Ploumen this week, Ms. Bibeau said she emphasized Canada’s commitment to sexual and reproductive health. Ms. Ploumen is leading an effort to establish an international safe-abortion fund to fill a $600-million gap left by Mr. Trump’s reinstatement of the so-called global gag rule prohibiting U.S. funding to international organizations that fail to disavow abortion.

[continued at link]
Source, Globe & Mail: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/canada-considering-global-fund-to-counter-trump-abortion-directive/article33815664/


Canada: Trump’s Presidency May Have A Global Impact On Reproductive Rights

by Sandeep Prasad, Executive Director, Action Canada for Sexual Health and Rights
Posted: 12/07/2016
Huffington Post

I can still remember the feeling I had the day Trump was elected. Among countless liberties and freedoms, reproductive rights were once again on the chopping block.

His vice-president, U.S. ambassador to the UN and nominated secretary of health and human services are all outspoken anti-choicers, he has made comments about punishing women who have abortions, has vowed to appoint anti-choice justices to the U.S. Supreme Court -- specifically hoping the Court will overturn Roe v. Wade -- and has suggested defunding Planned Parenthood and banning abortions after 20 weeks.

Many have since stood up against Trump's anti-choice promises, including thousands of donations to Planned Parenthood under Mike Pence's name.

[continued at link]
Source: Huffington Post


Canada: How serious is Trudeau about women’s reproductive rights?

Prime minister is slow to act on promises to advance access to safe abortion at home and abroad
Opinion by Sandeep Prasad, Anu Kumar
September 28, 2016

Trudeau’s feminism has been put to the test since day one of his election. Today, on the Global Day of Action for Access to Safe and Legal Abortion, it’s time for the Canadian government to turn words into action.

While this new government continues to make inroads in changing the rollback of human rights left behind by Harper — through a national inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women, reimplementation of the long-form census, and the historic welcoming of 25,000 Syrian refugees into the country — Trudeau is slow to act on his promises to advance women’s reproductive rights, namely access to safe and legal abortion at home and abroad.

Without access to safe and legal abortion, women often turn to unsafe methods. Every minute, some 40 women around the world undergo unsafe abortion because they have little choice and for myriad reasons do not want to continue the pregnancy. Unsafe abortion is one of five leading causes of maternal mortality and is the only one that is completely preventable.

[continued at link]
Source: Ricochet Media