I am pro-choice, and I agree with President Trump’s first executive order.
The executive order reinstated a ban on using U.S. funding to fund abortions outside of the United States. The United States sends foreign aid to many countries worldwide, whether for helping foreign militaries or ordinary citizens.
The Mexico City Policy, or global gag rule, began with Ronald Reagan in 1984 and it has been repealed or replaced with almost every new president. That tug of war needs to stop. We can’t just change a piece of legislation every time the executive branch switches between different parties.
According to the BBC, the executive order does not make abortion illegal in the U.S. or in other countries. Instead, organizations abroad cannot use money received from the U.S. to perform or educate others on abortion.
As a young woman, I understand why abortion rights are important to many people. However, abortion should not be the first thing a person thinks of when it comes to contraception. Both women and men should educate themselves on the various methods of contraception to prevent unwanted pregnancies.
We have many international students on campus who will be affected when they return home. The U.S. provides a lot of foreign aid to other countries, but I believe it is time for the U.S. to take a break from being the country to step in at another country’s beck and call.
According to the BBC, the Netherlands has already put in motion a fund to fill the gap from the United States.
The problem with repealing the Mexico City Policy is that it takes funding away from women in other countries who may really need an abortion. While it is important for all women, no matter where they live, to have access to health care, it should be up to groups such as the World Health Organization (WHO) or the United Nations (UN) to help instead of just one country.
As students, both American and international, we should take this as an opportunity to educate ourselves on contraception to avoid the need for an abortion.
