U.S. Aid Cuts and Their Global Impact on Reproductive Health and Rights
Global reproductive rights and investment in the agencies and organizations that support reproductive rights have often been used as a political football. The bodies of women, girls, and LGBTQI+ persons have been used to push and pull power for decades—and this anti-rights, anti-choice framework has become increasingly exported around the world. Beth Schlachter, Senior Director for U.S. and External Engagement for MSI Reproductive Choices, talks to us about how attacks to human rights frameworks and funding will further endanger global reproductive health and rights.
Some apparatuses the U.S. have been using to redefine human rights, and therefore, redefine access to sexual and reproductive healthcare services, include the Commission on Unalienable Rights, the International Ministerial Conference on Freedom of Religion or Belief, and the Geneva Consensus Declaration. These frameworks and tools then get internationally exported. MSI has a host of programs around the world that will be impacted by these tools, frameworks, and funding attacks. MSI’s programs support maternal health and access to other reproductive health services. In addition, these attacks will likely and broadly impact child marriage programs, the PEPFAR program, the Sustainable Development Goals, and more.
Links from this episode
MSI Reproductive Choices
MSI on Instagram
MSI on X
MSI on Facebook
Beyond the Chaos, a New World is Emerging: Making Sense of the Trump Administration’s Impact on Reproductive Rights and Gender Equality
Alliance Defending Freedom: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
The dismantling of US international aid has already had a profound impact on women’s reproductive health around the world.
Defending reproductive rights in the face of aid cuts
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Transcript
Jennie: Welcome to rePROs Fight Back, a podcast on all things related to sexual and reproductive health, rights, and justice. [music intro]
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Follow MSI Reproductive Choices on X and Facebook and stay up to date on their important work.
Talk to as many people as you can about how severe the damage to attacks to family planning and reproductive health funding can really be.
Take care of your own mental health and wellbeing. Take breaks and find strength in solidarity. Accept that this is a long game, and support those in your community as they support you.