On Thursday, March 2, the high-level conference "She Decides" was held in Brussels in response to the "Global Gag Rule" recently signed by Donald Trump, which effectively cut $600 million in annual funding for organizations working to improve global health. Equilibres & Populations was present at this landmark event to lend its support to the "She Decides" initiative and show its commitment to promoting women's right to control their own bodies.
The Global Gag Rule has many direct consequences. The Guttmacher Institute estimated that the funds invested by the United States enabled 27 million women and couples to receive contraceptive services and products each year, preventing 6 million unwanted pregnancies, 2 million unsafe abortions, and 11,000 maternal deaths.
Although it is difficult to quantify precisely the impact of the outright cessation of this funding for at least four years, we already know that it will be very significant if nothing is done to counter it. But beyond these direct consequences, what is at stake in these power struggles, in addition to the single issue of abortion, is each individual's control over their own sexuality.
Associations working on this issue want governments to move from a reactive to a proactive approach. Every woman and every man has the fundamental right to control their own body. If there is an imbalance in this area, the foundations for gender equality do not exist. It is therefore more important than ever to defend these positions, whatever the context, and to help advance projects in the field, which is what Equilibres & Populations has been committed to for more than twenty years.
The launch of the "She Decides" initiative marks a turning point. For the first time, the call for donations is addressed to both governments and citizens. This can be done through a small financial contribution, or it can take the form of a commitment, whether professional, associative, or personal, because we are all concerned.
