Trump Bans U.S. Funding For Organisations That Provide Abortion Services

[caption id="attachment_15883" align="alignnone" width="699"]President Donald Trump [/caption]

US President, Donald Trump has signed a presidential memorandum reinstating the “Mexico City” policy — barring U.S. aid or federal funding for any international nongovernmental organizations that provide or “promote” abortions.

The policy was established by former Republican President, Ronald Reagan in 1984, at a United Nations Conference in Mexico City.

The rule, which was revoked by former President, Barack Obama, forces NGOs to agree to “neither perform nor actively promote abortion as a method of family planning in other nations” as a prerequisite for federal funds. It does not matter if non-US funds are being used for the abortions.

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White House Press Secretary, Sean Spicer, told reporters: “The president has made clear he is a pro-life president. He wants to stand up for all Americans – including the unborn.”

Mr. Trump and Vice President Mike Pence, known for his staunch opposition to abortion rights, made it clear during the presidential campaign. Mr. Trump had signaled his intent to make the order one of his first acts as president, which pleased anti-abortion activists at home.

“We applaud President Trump for putting an end to taxpayer funding of groups that promote the killing of unborn children in developing nations,” Carol Tobias, president of the National Right to Life Committee in Washington, the nation’s largest anti-abortion organization, said in a statement.

Groups that support abortion rights have opposed the policy and urged politicians not to back. Republican and Democratic presidents have taken turns to impose and rescind the rule.

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