Huffington Post: Putting HER First: A Step Toward a Long-Term Strategy for Women’s Rights
Savannah Fox, human rights fellow at Young Professionals in Foreign Policy (YPFP) and regional advocacy coordinator in the advocacy and policy unit at CARE International

“…When U.S. policy restricts access to global health services, women and children suffer the most. However, methods that support, protect, and invest in the rights of women and girls show a positive impact on their entire communities. Instead of embarking on another iteration of the outdated Mexico City policy, the United States must make a lasting commitment to support family planning by supporting the newly introduced Global Health, Empowerment and Rights (HER) Act. The HER Act would ensure that eligible foreign NGOs can continue to provide health services with U.S. funds, while paying for abortions services and education on their own with non-U.S. funds. … The HER act … seeks to repeal the Mexico City policy indefinitely in order to stabilize funding through long-term strategies. While the multiplier effects of investing in women and children are typically not seen immediately within a four-year presidential term, long-term benefits will be seen well beyond clinic doors. U.S. policymakers must not allow human rights, especially of some of the most vulnerable, to continue to be dictated by dated political ideology. They should pass the HER Act allowing access to family planning to improve the lives of women, boost economic growth, and secure stable societies worldwide” (4/17).