World Health Organization

Today we visited the World Health Organization (WHO) for a briefing on sexual and reproductive health. A specialist discussed with us the issue of unsafe abortions and the WHO's strategic approach to strengthening abortion policies and programs. In 2003 the estimated number of unsafe abortions preformed were 19.7 million, and again in 2003 deaths due to unsafe abortions were 66,500. The most interesting issue brought up in the discussion to me was the Global Gag Rule/ Mexico City Policy which is a United States government policy which requires all non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that receive federal funding to refrain from performing or promoting abortion services in other countries. It was in place from 1984 until 1993 and again since 2001. This policy seems a bit odd since, abortion is legal in the US