Biden carefully takes the first steps towards women’s right to abortion

Washington | During the anti-abortion mobilization, Joe Biden announced on Thursday that he was returning American aid to foreign groups that facilitate women to perform abortions, but proceeded cautiously on this sensitive ground in the United States.

The new president will sign a decree in the afternoon to repeal the “Mexico City policy” that prohibits the United States from funding any international NGO immediately after advising on abortion.

This rule, which has been a strong political symbol for decades, was introduced by the Republican administration of Ronald Reagan, repealed by each Democratic president and re-appointed by each Republican.

According to a government report, this affected 1,300 international projects in 2018 and forced NGOs to lay off more than $ 150 million that year.

Abortion has been legal in the United States since the Supreme Court ruled in 1973, but it still divides the American population, and opposition to religious groups is still very strong.

As every year around the anniversary date of this historic stop, abortion opponents plan to hear on Friday. But the pandemic responsibilities, their “march” is different from last year involving Donald Trump.

A favorable time for women’s right to abortion, the Republican billionaire pretended to be a staunch opponent of abortion and won voters over their religious right.

To satisfy them, his administration rejected the “Mexico City policy” at the national level, with family planning centers physically segregating gynecological consultation and abortion, with the prospect of losing federal funds. A quarter of these structures were fined.

In his decree, Joe Biden mentioned this, but with caution. A statement from the White House said, “We are not in a position to comment on this.”

The text says nothing about the “hide amendment”, which prohibits the use of federal funds to perform most abortions, although Joe Biden promised during his campaign that it would be repealed.

“Touches Conscience”

At her first press conference, White House spokeswoman Jen Saki asked about the new president’s intentions on the matter: “He is a devout Catholic who goes to church regularly,” she replied without further ado.

Despite opposition from the clergy to abortion, Joe Biden has publicly defended the right of women to have abortions, in line with the majority of his electorate. But he didn’t do a big thing in his campaign.

Communities that advocate this right are very vigilant for the future.

“We are delighted that President Biden is repealing the Mexico City policy, which is a cruel and neocolonial rule,” Serra Sipple, president of the Center for Health and Gender Equity (Change), told a news conference. She noted that its effects would not go away unless clear instructions were given to embassies and federal agencies.

Her statements are “very important first steps in the right direction, but the administration needs to move further,” said Hermనియాnia Palacio, president of the Gutmacher Institute, who make up the vast majority of the approximately 850,000 abortions that occur each year in the United States – women of color and modest background.

For her, allowing abortion is entirely in the fight against inequality, which Joe Biden has prioritized. On Thursday, he must sign a decree to facilitate access to those without federal medical coverage by his employers.

But abortion opponents and their Republican allies are coming in other ways.

Republican leader Mitch McConnell in the Senate has been criticized for “financing abortions abroad with taxpayers’ money” which “breaks their conscience” and goes against the new president’s promises of unity.

His colleague Lindsay Graham reintroduced a bill to prevent 20-week miscarriage, which is now legal in the United States.