|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
  |
 |
  |
Restoration of the Mexico City Policy Concerning Family Planning
>> USAID Home Page >> Restoration of Mexico City Policy 
"This policy recognizes our country's long history of providing international health care services, including voluntary family planning to couples around the world who want to make free and responsible decisions about the number and spacing of their children."
The White House
January 22, 2001
On January 22, 2001, President George W. Bush announced reinstatement of the so-called Mexico City policy that required non-governmental organizations to "agree as a condition of their receipt of Federal funds that such organizations would neither perform nor actively promote abortion as a method of family planning in other nations." The President is committed to maintaining the $425 million funding level provided for in the FY 2001 appropriation because he knows that one of the best ways to prevent abortion is by providing quality voluntary family planning services.
The President's clear intention is that any restrictions do not limit organizations from treating injuries or illnesses caused by legal or illegal abortions, for example, post-abortion care. This position has wide Congressional support.
This policy recognizes our country's long history of providing international health care services, including voluntary family planning to couples around the world who want to make free and responsible decisions about the number and spacing of their children.
Since its beginning in 1965, the USAID family planning program has been involved in all major innovations in international family planning. The agency is recognized for its leadership in the field. USAID support for family planning has helped developing countries providing family planning services to more that 100 million couples and has contributed to an over 40% decline in the average family size in 28 countries since 1965. This decline has contributed to meeting the global health goals of halving maternal mortality rates, reducing child mortality by one-third and decreasing the rate of new HIV infections by 15 percent.
It should be noted that since 1973, with the enactment of the Helms Amendment, USAID has been legally prohibited from supporting or encouraging abortion as a method of family planning. USAID has strict procedures to ensure that no USAID-provided funds are used for abortion, including legally binding contracts with organizations receiving funds, separate accounting procedures to ensure that no USAID funds support prohibited activities, close technical monitoring, and regular financial audits by outside nationally-recognized accounting firms.
Read more about this decision:
 |
|||
Last Updated on: February 13, 2001 |
