23 January 2026 - The International Planned Parenthood Federation
IPPF condemns the US government’s announcement of a sweeping expansion of the Global Gag Rule (GGR), also known as the Mexico City Policy. Trump's expansion, announced today continues on a path of instrumentalising those most marginalised. It marks increasing attempts to capture global health and human rights with a deeply regressive act of imperialism masquerading as foreign policy.
The expanded policy is no longer limited to global health funding but weaponizes all non-military U.S. foreign assistance. This now includes diversity, equity and inclusion policies, and gender identity rights, recast as threats and condemned as “radical gender ideologies that prey on our children” by JD Vance at today’s March for Life, giving fuel to a populist politics that institutionalises fear through a culture of misinformation that is yet again entrenched in official policy by the Trump administration. The Trump Administration attempts to block foreign assistance funding to U.S. organizations, other governments, and multilateral institutions who engage in human rights. This is yet another attack on national sovereignty and colonial intervention through the curtailing of sexual and reproductive rights.
This is a clear and deliberate strategy to destabilise democracies, undermine human rights, and prioritise the commercial and political interests of a few powerful industries over the health and freedoms of millions.
“In an age of Epstein scandals and hocus pocus designed to undermine science and medicine, the Trump Administration has read the room. He knows his obsession with women’s bodies is viewed cynically, so he has utilised the man-made panic funded by the fossil fuel industry to shift the focus of his policy against trans people. The Global Gag rule is hate-bait designed to keep his donors happy and export more division to countries reliant on US aid, in the absence of economic justice.” said Mina Barling, IPPF’s Global Director of External Relations. “We stand in solidarity with women and trans people in all their diversity. We demand debt relief, and we support national sovereignty. We want to see a new global health architecture that is less susceptible to the whims of American politicians.”
IPPF remains unwavering. We will continue to defend sexual and reproductive rights and justice for all, including the right to abortion, and gender affirming care. We stand with our partners resisting this continuation of American imperialism. We call on the global community to protect rights in law and practice: repeal regressive laws; decriminalise abortion, and offer care for all.
ENDS
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Notes:
- The GGR already prevents foreign groups receiving U.S. global health funding from providing or promoting abortion, even if those programs are paid for with other sources of financing. IPPF has never signed the Global Gag Rule.
For more information or to interview one of our staff, please contact media@ippf.org or +66628683089.
About the International Planned Parenthood Federation
IPPF is a global healthcare provider and a leading advocate of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) for all. Led by a courageous and determined group of women, IPPF was founded in 1952 at the Third International Planned Parenthood Conference. Today, we are a movement of 158 Member Associations and Collaborative Partners with a presence in over 153 countries.
Our work is wide-ranging, and includes services for sexual health and well-being, contraception, abortion care, sexually transmitted infections and reproductive tract infections, HIV, obstetrics and gynaecology, fertility support, sexual and gender-based violence, comprehensive sex education, and responding to humanitarian crises. We pride ourselves on being local through our members and global through our network. At the heart of our mission is the provision of – and advocacy in support of – integrated healthcare to anyone who needs it regardless of race, gender, sex, income, and, crucially, no matter how remote.
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