Donald Trump signs anti-abortion executive order

In one of his first acts as President, Donald Trump has signed an executive order to cut funding to organisations that provide women with advice on abortions.

The global gag rule, which limits US foreign aid going to organisations that provide support for women getting abortions, was first introduced by Ronald Reagan in 1984. It has been revoked or reinstated every time the White House has gone to a different party.

The fact Trump signed this order which will impact the health of millions of women around the world, while flanked by men wasn’t overlooked.  

Donald Trump signs anti-abortion executive order surrounded by men https://t.co/CEOUCZWFGE pic.twitter.com/aYMsgZkE7C

— Jack Sommers (@jack_sommers) January 23, 2017

According to the World Health Organisation, an estimated 21 million women have unsafe abortions in the developing world each year.

This accounts for about 13% of all maternal deaths. American money currently helps 27 million women access contraceptives, thanks to $600 million of funding each year on international assistance for family planning and reproductive health.

This short video explains the global gag rule, also known as the Mexico City Policy, which has cast a shadow on US support for women’s health in developing countries for thirty years. 

Donald Trump is not the first Republican president to revoke the global gag rule so early in his term. But there is some apprehension that this order, signed on the 44th anniversary of Roe vs Wade, the landmark Supreme Court decision that held a woman has a constitutional right to have an abortion, is only the start of Trump’s intentions to wind back the reproductive rights of women.

He is expected to fill the Supreme Court’s vacant seat with a socially conservative judge which could potentially restrict abortion rights.