Developing Countries: Abortion

(asked on 25th July 2019) - View Source

Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how he will ensure that funding allocated to NGOs is not used to enforce the US government’s anti-abortion policies under the expanded Protecting Life in Global Health Assistance rule.


Answered by
Andrew Murrison Portrait
Andrew Murrison
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
This question was answered on 3rd September 2019

The UK government will continue to lead the world in our long-term support for comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), and to help women and girls get the information and services they need to give them control over their own lives and bodies. This is essential to achieving the Global Goals.

Following the reintroduction and expansion of the Mexico City Policy in January 2017, we have kept in close contact with partners including UK NGOs to ensure the policy does not compromise UK-supported evidence-based comprehensive SRHR programming.

The full implications of the further expansion of the Mexico City Policy in May 2019 are still emerging and we are closely monitoring developments. DFID is considering the implications, including with our partners, civil society and other donors.

The UK will continue to defend SRHR through our programmes and our voice on the world stage.

Reticulating Splines