President Barack Obama this week lifted the ban on US funding for international organisations that offer advice about, or perform abortions.
The ban was introduced by Ronald Reagan at a conference in Mexico City in 1984. Family planning organisations called it the ”global gag order” because it banned groups from even discussing abortion.
In the 25 years since then funding for such organisations has become a political tennis match between Democrats and Republicans.
Bill Clinton reinstated funding on the anniversary of the Roe v Wade decision on abortion when he was inaugurated as president in 1993. Bush chose the same occasion to reverse the measure when he became president in 2001.
Obama adopted a non-confrontational approach to his repeal of the abortion ban, waiting until after this week’s anniversary of the Roe v Wade judgement to avoid antagonising pro-life groups.
He issued a statement reaffirming his support for abortion rights on Thursday, but also called for attempts to find common ground with opponents of abortion on improving access to information and contraception.
The president is expected to tread with similar delicacy on the emotive issue of federal funding for embryonic stem cell research, which anti-abortion groups also oppose.
The US Food and Drug Administration approved the first human trial using embryonic stem cells yesterday for paraplegics who have the use of their arms but cannot walk.
Bush banned federal funding for embryonic stem cell research, and restricted the number of available stem cell lines.
There was broad support for Obama yesterday from family planning organisations. —