W HETHER YOU’VE HAD an abortion, or read a pregnancy test while your friend covered her eyes, or sat for hours in a waiting room watching women come and go, or simply believe in the right to choose, you know that facing the decision to terminate a pregnancy is devastating. There are few other times when we need our sisters more. And not just sisters to hold hands and to drive to clinics, but sisters who meet us at the door of those clinics and sisters who fight to lower the cost of procedures, and sisters who educate us on how to take care of ourselves after abortions. For women around the world, their network of sisters has just grown.
President Obama signed a bill Friday, overturning a rule instated by George W. Bush banning federal funding to any foreign family-planning agencies that promoted or provided information about abortions. After the ban was lifted, the women’s health organization, Planned Parenthood, released a statement declaring: “No longer will health-care providers be forced to choose between receiving family-planning funding and restricting the health care services they provide to women.”
We rejoice with our sisters and for our sisters in this small victory of global women’s rights.
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This is a major victory, but unfortunately only one of many that women around the world desperately need. The level of victimization inflicted upon women in developing countries is staggering. We owe it to our sisters to get educated about issues like acid attacks and female genital mutiliation, in the hope that someday, cultural norms can shift towards a less brutal treatment of our sisters.
A proud moment for us all. Looking forward for more to come. Thank you President Obama.
This is great news! I hadn’t heard about this yet. Thanks for keeping us updated- I’m glad I can be all the way in Guatemala and use your blog to stay informed.
On a lighter note, I had no idea Obama was left-handed. That gives him more credibility to me (a fellow lefty).
great point, Paige. Hopefully this victory will inspire american women to push for more changes that will directly affect our sisters living elsewhere.