Obama to end anti-abortion policy for overseas funds
01/23/2009 @ 11:19 am
Filed by Agence France-Presse
/>President Barack Obama is set Friday to overturn a ban on funding family planning organizations which carry out or facilitate abortions overseas, a senior White House official said.
Asked if the president was to sign an order overturning the ban, an administration official said it was "likely today" (Friday).
The co-called "global gag rule" cuts off US funding to overseas family planning clinics which provide any abortion services whatsoever, from the operation itself to counselling, referrals or post-abortion services.
First introduced by Republican president Ronald Reagan in 1984, it has been repeatedly repealed by Democratic administrations and then reintroduced by the Republicans.
Obama's move would overturn the orders of president George W. Bush, who when he came into office in 2000 immediately once again froze funds to many family planning groups working overseas.
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