Letter to President Bush

Urging him to Lift the Global Gag Rule

President George W. Bush 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, D.C. 20500 Dear Mr. President: In these difficult times, Americans have renewed their commitment to protecting the liberties that make this nation great: the right to freedom of speech, freedom of association and freedom of religion. There could not be a more appropriate time for you, the leader of the free world, to lift the gag on free speech by suspending the undemocratic “Mexico City Policy.” This global gag rule sets a lower standard for the rights to freedom of speech and freedom of association for our allies abroad than we enjoy in the United States. The gag rule denies U.S. family planning assistance to foreign non-governmental organizations that, with their own non-U.S. funds, either promote abortion law reform or provide the full range of legal reproductive health services, including abortion, counseling and referrals. Speech about abortion rights is censored, while anti-abortion groups that receive U.S. funds may speak freely. Now more than ever, U.S. policy must strive to impress upon the world what we truly stand for. The Mexico City Policy gag on speech and the ability to participate in law reform is a direct affront to American values. We are exporting a policy that is contrary to our Constitution and one that could not be imposed in the United States. The Senate included a provision in the Foreign Operations Appropriations Act that would eliminate the global gag rule. We commend the Senate for consistently standing against these undemocratic restrictions and urge Senators to remain steadfast in conference committee negotiations. Mr. President, we urge you to join the Senate in demonstrating that the United States is committed to the universality of human rights and civil liberties by eliminating the global gag rule. Sincerely, Advocates for Youth Alan Guttmacher Institute American Association of University Women American Civil Liberties Union American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists American Medical Women’s Association Association of Reproductive Health Professionals Business and Professional Women/USA Catholics for a Free Choice Center for Health and Gender Equity Center for Reproductive Rights Center for Women Policy Studies Clearinghouse on Women’s Issues Feminist Majority Hadassah, the Women’s Zionist Organization of America International Women’s Health Coalition Marie Stopes International National Abortion Federation National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women’s Health National Council of Jewish Women National Council of Women’s Organizations National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association National Organization of Women National Women’s Political Caucus Network of East-West Women OMB Watch Planned Parenthood Federation of America Planned Parenthood of New York City Voters For Choice Women’s Campaign Fund Women’s Commission for Refugee Women and Children Women’s EDGE Women’s Environment and Development Organization Women’s Rights Division of Human Rights Watch Zero Population Growth