Catch up on the latest IANGEL advocacy news! Here are the most recent bills and initiatives we are supporting:
Continuing to dismantle systems of racism
Last year, IANGEL signed on to two letters addressed to the UN Human Rights Council and its High Commissioner in the wake of the murder of George Floyd, urging them to address ongoing police violence in the United States. Though George Floyd’s murderer was found guilty, the work to dismantle systems that continue to disregard Black and Brown lives doesn’t end there. We have signed on to two follow-up letters to the High Commissioner for Human Rights and Ministers of Foreign Affairs of African States, urging them to support the demands made by families of victims of police violence, civil society organizations, and UN Special Procedures before the final report by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on systemic racism and police violence, mandated by Resolution 43/1, slated for June 2021.
Repealing the Helms Amendment: Abortion is Healthcare Everywhere Act
IANGEL recently endorsed the Abortion is Healthcare Everywhere Act, which would remove the Helms Amendment from the Foreign Assistance Act, and instead include language stating that U.S. funding will be used to provide comprehensive reproductive health care services, including the provision of abortion services, training, and equipment. We recently participated in a social media “Twitterstorm” event, urging the Biden Administration to uphold sexual and reproductive health and rights by passing the the Abortion is Health Care Everywhere Act, and end the Helms Amendment once and for all.
Increase funding for international family planning and reproductive health programs
We have also signed on to a letter to the Biden administration, urging it to permit at a minimum, the use of foreign assistance for abortion care in cases of rape, incest, and life endangerment, and to make abortion information and counseling available. Recognizing the racist and neo-colonial roots of the Helms Amendment, the letter also highlights the need to implement recommendations tackling racism and discrimination made by 23 countries spanning across Asia, Africa, Latin America, Europe, and the Middle East. If implemented, these recommendations would provide greater access to sexual and reproductive health and rights, as well as improve the livelihood and wellbeing of persons experiencing discrimination.
Continuing support for the Global HER Act
The Global Health Empowerment and Rights (HER) Act would effectively repeal the global gag rule by removing eligibility restrictions on recipients of U.S. foreign assistance and guarantee that U.S. foreign assistance prioritizes women’s health. We have formally endorsed this Act to effectively repeal the global gag rule through legislative action. We continue to regularly promote and urge our networks to write to their representatives to sponsor the legislation, through advocacy updates and social media. Individuals and organizations can sign this petition to tell the U.S. Congress to permanently end the Global Gag Rule by passing the Global HER Act.
Putting an end to abortion restrictions on foreign aid
IANGEL is working to advance sexual and reproductive health and rights by asking for increased funding for international family planning and reproductive health programs. The letter we signed asks Congress to address policies that limit the effectiveness of family planning and reproductive health (FP/RH) programs in the upcoming State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs FY 2022 Appropriations bill. The letter also requests that action be taken to promote the equity and efficiency of FP/RH programs, as well as to protect and promote sexual and reproductive health and rights, including permanently repealing the Global Gag Rule and removing the Helms Amendment.
Encouraging young women and girls to lead
There is a pressing need to build tools that will increase girls’ participation in decision-making processes and to acknowledge the gender-related causes that prevent them from doing so. The Girls Leadership, Engagement, Agency and Development (LEAD) Act is a bipartisan policy initiative that promotes girls’ leadership and participation in civic and political processes through U.S. foreign assistance. If passed, this legislation would enact reforms across USAID and the State Department to ensure that girls receive the support they need to meaningfully engage in civic and political processes in their communities, helping to break down barriers that future world leaders are facing, and empower women from an early age.
This is only the beginning. With your support, we can continue to fight for gender justice for everyone, everywhere.
Passionate about gender justice, have prior nonprofit development and communications experience, and grant writing/management skills? We’re looking for a Deputy Director (DD) who will help guide, shape, and grow this dynamic women’s rights nonprofit, by developing and implementing key strategies to connect our development and communications with our programmatic work.
Some other ways you can get involved: