PARLIAMENTARY EARLY DAY MOTION
INTERNATIONAL FUND TO FINANCE ACCESS TO BIRTH CONTROL AND ABORTION (25 January 2017)

That this House welcomes the decision of the Dutch Government to launch an international fund to finance access to birth control and abortion in the global south; notes that this initiative is in response to the deeply regrettable reinstatement by President Trump of the so-called global gag rule, banning international non-governmental organisations that received US funding from providing abortion services or information; further notes that the World Health Organisation estimates that 22 million women experience unsafe abortions every year, the vast majority in countries where abortion rights are restricted by law; notes that such unsafe abortions are a major cause of maternal mortality, killing more than 45,000 women every year; further welcomes the Government's commitment to Sustainable Development Goal Target 5.6 of ensuring universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights; and calls on the Government to work closely with the Dutch Government to maximise contributions to the fund by governments, businesses and civil society organisations.

Sponsored by:
Caroline Lucas (Green Party)