"Planned Parenthood — Promoting Health and Democracy Worldwide"

A personal story brings new understanding of what it means to live with HIV/AIDS

With a 'virtual trip' to Kenya, the Planned Parenthood's Vice President for Global Activities, demonstrates the critical importance of proposed legislation which would abolish the Global Gag Rule once and for all. In "Planned Parenthood — Promoting Health and Democracy Worldwide," the video airing during October 2011, Latanya Mapp Frett, commends Representative Nita Lowey for introducing the Global Democracy Promotion Act in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Ms. Frett explains that the Global Democracy Promotion Act would ensure that the United States could not impose restrictions on organizations in other countries that would not be legal in this country. The legislation would allow funding for organizations that provide services that are legal in their own country and also legal in ours. If passed, it would put a permanent end to the Global Gag Rule, a set of restrictions placed on U.S. foreign assistance first put in place by President Reagan and most recently repealed by President Obama.  The Global Democracy Promotion Act would make it illegal to tie such restrictions to much-needed development aid.
 
Congresswoman Lowey, a longtime champion of democracy and women’s health, introduced the Global Democracy Promotion Act in late July 2011.

The nefarious 'Global Gag Rule' blocks U.S. foreign aid to countries or organizations that use their own money to provide abortion services or counseling, referrals for abortion or to support abortion rights policies in any way.
Also known as the "Mexico City" policy, the Global Gag Rule has been the topic of several previous Future Choices shows. See Global Gag Rule.
The gag rule, in effect, stifles advocates’ free speech. In the U.S., that would be a violation of our first amendment rights. It is reprehensible that such a policy ever be allowed to distort the democratic principles of U.S. foreign policy.

The companion bill was subsequently introduced in the U.S. Senate by Senator Frank Lautenberg. On September 23rd, the Senate Appropriations Committee on Wednesday voted 18-12 in favor of an amendment to the foreign aid appropriations bill that would permanently repeal the so-called "Mexico City" policy, also known as the "global gag rule."

President Obama repealed the insidious global gag rule just days after taking office, but unless the Congress sends Global Democracy Promotion Act to him for his signature we are at risk that a future president or Congress might re-impose the Global Gag Rule despite the severe harm it would inflict on vulnerable women and their families in struggling countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

Under the Global Gag Rule U.S. foreign aid has been used as a tool to limit women’s access to health care and to impose unfair restrictions on the decision-making ability of independent organizations overseas, Ms. Frett recounts. "The women of the world need information and services, not censorship and restrictions."

Especially for this reason, Ms. Frett urges all to contact their Congressional representative to support international family planning and reproductive health services by ending the Global Gag Rule.

Planned Parenthood Global Promotes Health Care and Democratic Principles

Planned Parenthood Global is the international division of Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA). Working in 10 countries in Africa and Latin America Planned Parenthood provides financial and technical assistance to local organizations. The focus is on advocacy and innovative service delivery with a special emphasis on sustainability. With their support, local advocates and medical providers build lasting institutions that strengthen local movements to the health and lives of women and their families.
 
One of the best examples of how PPFA works in partnership with both local and international organizations is our support of the Reproductive Health and Rights Alliance (RHRA) in Kenya. The RHRA came together in support of three medical providers wrongfully arrested and accused of “abortion-related murder.” These providers were put on a very public trial that lasted over a year before the case was eventually thrown out. By the time the trial ended, a strong coalition of reproductive rights advocates had formed including the Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA Kenya), the Kenyan society of OBGYNs and national nurses association. This partnership is vividly described in the video.

	Carolina for Kibera is another important PPFA partner in Kenya
	Located in the heart of the massive slum outside Nairobi, where electricity and running water is scarce and where rates of teen pregnancy and maternal mortality are sky high Carolina for Kibera trains young people living in Kibera to serve their peers. Carolina for Kibera is uniquely suited to reach this population otherwise overlooked by the formal health care system. PPFA has only to provide special staff training in family planning, HIV/AIDS, reduction of violence against women. Carolina for Kibera peer educators now bring this powerful information empowering hundreds of Kibera's young people to talk to about sex, HIV/AIDS, and reproductive health.

Carolina for Kibera is another important PPFA partner in Kenya

Located in the heart of the massive slum outside Nairobi, where electricity and running water is scar se and where rates of teen pregnancy and maternal mortality are sky high Carolina for Kibera trains young people living in Kibera to serve their peers. Carolina for Kibera is uniquely suited to reach this population otherwise overlooked by the formal health care system. PPFA has only to provide special staff training in family planning, HIV/AIDS, reduction of violence against women. Carolina for Kibera now brings this powerful information empowering hundreds of Kibera's young people to talk to about sex, HIV/AIDS, and reproductive health.

When is Future Choices aired in your community?
See Local TV schedule for time and channel in each participating community in Westchester County.

When is Future Choices aired in your community?
See Local TV schedule for time and channel in each participating community in Westchester County.

Latanya Mapp Frett is vice president for Planned Parenthood Federation of America's International Division, which works to ensure that women, men and young people in some of the world's most neglected areas have access to the health care they need to control their bodies and their futures. She has a distinguished and extensive track record in international development work, including six years with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and eight years with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). |MORE