The U.S. government under President Donald Trump sent a stark signal to the world when it announced plans to freeze a wide range of foreign aid programmes, including contributions to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). This marked not just a financial turning point, but an ideological one too. The policies implemented by the Trump administration are a clear example of an ideological regression in terms of reproductive health and women’s rights. As early as 2017, the administration reactivated the so-called ‘Global Gag Rule’. This regulation prohibits foreign non-governmental organisations from using US funds to provide any information about abortion, even indirectly. Studies show that this expansion had a significant impact on access to essential health services. Cuts resulted in a drastic reduction in access to modern contraceptives, an increase in unsafe abortions and further destabilisation of fragile health systems, particularly in conflict and crisis zones. These consequences worsened following Trump’s return to office in January 2025.

The current version of the Global Gag Rule goes even further than earlier versions. It applies not only to directly funded organisations, but also to their partner organisations, forcing them to forgo all reproductive health services regardless of funding source. The rule now cascades down, affecting even local civil society actors who are in any way connected to U.S. funding. Furthermore, the scope of affected health programmes has been expanded again to include initiatives on gender-based violence prevention, STI education and maternal and child health. Consequently, numerous projects and humanitarian organisations in vulnerable regions have been forced to suspend their work.

The UNFPA is the central UN agency responsible for promoting sexual and reproductive health and gender equality. It operates in over 150 countries, supporting access to family planning, safe childbirth and protection against gender-based violence, particularly in crisis settings. In........

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