Obama Administration Should Work To Reform Helms Amendment Implementation, Do More For Global Reproductive Rights

The Hill: The hard truth about reproductive health under Obama
Jon O’Brien, president of Catholics for Choice

“…The Helms Amendment, enacted by Congress in 1973, prohibits foreign assistance funds for abortion services ‘as a method of family planning.’ The policy has been strictly implemented by USAID as a complete ban on support or counseling for safe abortion care. … Though this strict interpretation of Helms could be easily revised, the Obama administration, out of fear of upsetting ultraconservatives in Washington, continues to perpetuate this policy and do nothing…” (3/2).

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