Britain defies U.S. with world abortion funding

[deadparrot]

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain announced funding on Monday for safe abortion services in the developing world and urged other countries to join it, in defiance of Washington.

London will give 3 million pounds ($5.3 million) over two years to support groups that offer safe abortions and family planning, replacing U.S. aid that has been withdrawn because of Washington's anti-abortion stance.

Under a U.S. policy dubbed the "global gag rule," any organization applying to it for funds must agree not to counsel on abortion -- except to advise against it -- or to provide abortions.

The International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), which has developed the new Global Safe Abortion Programme, argues the U.S. policy exposes millions of poor women to unsafe abortions in back-street clinics.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/britain_abortion_dc

[Maat]

1. Good for Britain!

People in their government seem to be able to be something more than Blairbots/Bushbots.

[izzie]

2. About time a country saw we were going back wards.

Heck any one can see it is needed.

[iamjoy]

3. Hail Britannia!

:applause:
:woohoo:

[pinniped]

4. Nice title.

.

[DemExpat]

5. This is very good news!

:kick:

DemEx

[MrPrax]

6. Seems symbolic...

5.3 million isn't much over 2 years...where else are they getting funding?

[Judi Lynn]

7. Hope they can get the other European countries and Canada

to join their effort. This is really an important decision.

[iverglas]

10. Planned Parenthood Canada

... sent GW Bush a congratulatory letter when he was crowned the first time around -- it's no longer on the PP site, and I can't remember the details, but it informed him about donations made in his name to provide safe abortion/contraceptive care/counseling in developing countries. (The gag rule results in funding being denied to organizations that provide mainly basic health care, if they refuse to eliminate abortion care/counselling from their services.)

(PP in Canada is a purely public education organization and doesn't provide abortions or any medical care -- the public health plans do that.)

Canadian international aid has always been neutral on this issue, i.e. funded healthcare projects on merits, not on ideology. Unfortunately, with Stephen Harper being sworn in today, we aren't likely to see Canada following the UK's lead with targeted funding like this, this year.

A new year, a new election, given Harper's very tenuous hold on power in a minority govt now, so watch this space. ;)

[raccoon]

8. Way to go, GB! nt

[xxqqqzme]

9. termination - in Great Britain

it is called termination of pregnancy.

[Vidar]

11. Thank you, Brits.