Reproductive health advocates during a rally last week called on President Obama to take executive action to clarify the Helms Amendment, Rewire reports (Grimaldi, Rewire, 6/14).
Background
The Helms amendment, enacted in 1973, states that "no foreign assistance funds may be used to pay for the performance of an abortion as a method of family planning or to motivate or coerce any person to practice abortions." However, in practice, the amendment has been applied as a total ban on U.S. foreign aid funds for abortion care, according to supporters of abortion rights (Women's Health Policy Report, 8/13/15).
According to Rewire, the amendment includes exceptions for rape, incest and danger to the woman's life. However, the Obama administration has largely failed to enforce those exemptions, Rewire reports.
Rally details
Advocates rallied at the White House during the two-day United State of Women Summit, which focused on several women's issues, including women's health and wellness. However, the summit did not include discussions on abortion care. The rally was organized by Amnesty International USA, Catholics for Choice, the Center for Health and Gender Equity (CHANGE) and Reproaction.
The advocates called on Obama to take executive action to clarify that the Helms Amendment permits the use of U.S. foreign aid funding for abortion in the event of rape, incest or danger to a woman's life.
Erin Matson, co-founder and co-director of Reproaction, said, "There's never going to be a better time to do the right thing ... There's really no excuse not to act now."
Joanna Kuebler, director of external affairs at CHANGE, said if the Obama administration acts on the amendment now, the next administration could continue the work of clarifying the amendment.
She said, "We fully support the summit, but you can't take a victory lap on your women's rights record without standing with women raped in conflict" (Rewire, 6/14).
