The Netherlands Sets up Abortion Fund to Counter Trump's Gag

The Netherlands has announced that it will launch a global fund which will help women get access to abortion services, just days after President Trump reinstated the global gag rule, i.e banning any US foreign aid to international NGOs which provide abortion counselling. Trump’s move will cause funding to reduce by $600 million over the next four years.

The Netherlands has said that will ask countries outside the EU, companies and social institutions to participate in the fund. Lilianne Ploumen, foreign trade minister for The Netherlands, said Trump’s move has far-reaching consequences.

"First of all, for all those women who have to make a choice whether they want to have a child and also for their husbands and children and society as a whole. Banning abortion does not lead to fewer abortions. It leads to more irresponsible practices in back rooms and more maternal deaths” she said.

Trump’s policy has not been met well with health groups who say that the move can actually increase the number of unsafe abortions.

Ploumen quoted Marie Stopes International, a women’s health group, which said that up to 14 women could die per day because of this gag.

In a press statement, the group had said that it would not agree to these conditions. It said the loss of its services alone would cause 2.1 million unsafe abortions.

Also Read: #Globalgagrule: Trump Reinstates Anti-Abortion Policy