"Bye Bye Global Gag"

President Obama repealed the insidious global gag rule just days after taking office. This much anticipated and joyously welcomed Presidential action opens up new possibilities for women’s health advocates everywhere are focused on what comes next. In "Bye Bye Global Gag," airing in Westchester County June 2009, Veena Siddharth, notes that "We anticipate positive change but not without concerted effort by advocates in DC and around the world." As Vice President of International Programs for Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA), Veena is keenly aware of the challenges facing proponents of reproductive health care in the developing world. She leads us to Africa, Asia and Latin America -- and the U.S. -- to witness the gamut of PPFA's initiatives for women's health.

What was the Global Gag Rule?

Stay tuned to Future Choices in
coming months for interviews
with field staff in Kenya explor-
ing ongoing work for women's
health.

Veena Siddharth contends that "In a time of great economic constraints, we see an investment in women’s health as a cost-effective means of furthering economic, political, and social development in the United States and around the world." She asserts that PPFA is looking forward to working closely with the Obama administration on these issues. And then she proceeds to cite a series of examples of PPFA's most recent initiatives in the developing world.

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Dr. Isaiah Ndong of EngenderHealth told Future Choices in January that:

The global gag rule has "been harshest in parts of the world most in need of better health services.  As a result of the policy, "entire communities in Africa, Asia and Latin America have seen their health care options severely compromised." |MORE

In "Bye Bye Global Gag," Ms. Siddharth brings us up to date on the opportunities which are open to health care advocates now that the Global Gag Rule has been lifted. She reveals her thinking on questions like:

• What was so destructive about Global Gag Rule?
•  How did Global Gag Rule negatively impact provision of contraceptive services?
•  Now that the Global Gag Rule is lifted?
• We've been in this business for years, still things are bad. Are we going to get it right this time?
•  What are your dreams of what might be achieved during Obama administration?
•  What impassions you to spend so much time ensuring that women across the world have access to reproductive health care
•  How can you justify sending scarce tax dollars overseas when we need them so badly to help poor women in our own country?

Explaining that PPFA's style is to partner with talented individuals and NGOs in-country, Ms. Siddharth cites meaningful examples of PPFA work, as per:

Kenya's Reproductive Health and Rights Alliance  (RHRA) in which an energetic group of advocates from the medical, legal, women's rights, and human rights communities work together to improve maternal health conditions in Kenya by securing reproductive health laws and policies that promote women's health Creating public awareness about the extent and tragedy of unsafe abortion in order to facilitate and provoke debate on the need for responsive and comprehensive reproductive health rights within a well defined socio-economic and legal framework. Seeking interventions on how best to address unsafe abortion in Kenya.

The Guatemalan radio program instituted by and for young people to share pertinent and reliable information about sex and sexuality in order to combat STIs and teen pregnancy in the poorest of Guatemala City's neighborhoods. This program reaches out to 12- to 19-year-olds, a group that is vulnerable to unintended pregnancy. Through peer-to-peer activities and street theater performances, adolescents are empowered by knowledge and skills to make healthy decisions. The radio show produced and run by youth combines entertainment with sexuality education to attract its young listeners and ensure they have accurate information.

Ms. Siddharth dreams that ultimately we will achieve a change of public perception about women's health so that it becomes a national priority and girls are allowed to complete their education and attain the economic status of which they are exquisitely capable.

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Brief Bio of Veena Siddharth

Veena Siddharth, the Vice President of International Programs for Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA), draws on two decades of experience in the international arena and a background in advocacy and human rights. At Planned Parenthood, Veena continues to devote herself to securing for women in Asia, Africa, and Latin America economic and reproductive rights which are essential to the well-being of their family, their community and their country. |MORE

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