As the world’s number one global health donor, the U.S. has an obligation to support the provision of equitable, accessible health care globally. However, there are two major policies that currently interfere with and disrupt essential health care services: the “global gag rule” (GGR), and the Helms Amendment. These policies have devastating impacts on safe abortion access (and beyond) for millions of people in low- and middle-income countries, primarily harming people of color. While the harm they cause is similar, these policies do have distinct differences.
Separate Policies, Similar Harm: The Global Gag Rule and the Helms Amendment