34 The Suspension of PEPFAR
Arguably one of the most successful US foreign aid programs, PEPFAR, or the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, was passed during the Bush Administration in 2003. Since its establishment during the height of the AIDs epidemic in Africa, over 25 million lives have been saved. By partnering with more than 50 countries worldwide, PEPFAR provides communities with the tools to help control the spread of HIV/AIDS through delivering antiretroviral treatment, providing education on how to protect against HIV/AIDS, and partnering with local organizations. Historically, it has been widely supported by both liberal groups and evangelical Christian institutions. Unfortunately, PEPFAR is at risk of losing all its funding this month. With its expiration at the end of September, we have to look to the House of Representatives to reauthorize it for another 5 years – but discourse surrounding the organizations PEPFAR supports has led to the decision being stalled. Why? Clinics and health-care organizations that receive PEPFAR aid currently also provide abortions. These abortions are provided within the laws of their home countries, using money from sources that are not PEPFAR. Support for organizations that provide abortions has caused a stir within far-right organizations. This year, US abortion opponents are calling to add in new conditions preventing any organizations that receive PEPFAR funding from providing abortions. A decision that has led the program to being completely stalled. Far right Republicans have also been calling out new language included in the policy. Representative Christopher H. Smith of New Jersey called out this line of the policy, “institutional reforms in law and policy regarding sexual, reproductive and economic rights of women,” claiming that it was code for a plan to “integrate abortion with HIV/AIDS work.” The PEPFAR program has also added wording emphasizing the program should, “advance human rights and decriminalization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex (L.G.B.T.Q.I.+) communities.” To which Travis Weber, chief lobbyist of the Family Research Council, called PEPFAR, “a massive slush fund for abortion and LGBT advocacy.” Although PEPFAR is still a strong program, the rise in discourse around it is concerning to see – given it being historically supported by persons from all different ideological backgrounds. A rise in politicizing PEPFAR goes to show how far right-wing Republicans are willing to go to block something so clearly influential and necessary. Not reauthorizing PEPFAR this year will put millions of lives at risk globally – something pro-lifers should care about…right?
Sources: