March 06, 2003
Lee also warned that if the gag rule was extended to the treatment of HIV/AIDS, as the Administration is threatening, the dangers will be equally disastrous. Lee said that the President’s AIDS initiative was initially promising. But any extension of the global gag rule would "undercut the sincerity" of that initiative.
"The President needs to decide what is more important to him: saving the lives of the millions of people who are infected with HIV worldwide, or satisfying the demands of a small conservative minority within his own party," Lee said. "This should not be politicized."
Lee also expressed concern that the Administration’s plans to expand the policy would needlessly delay the Congressional passage of a comprehensive AIDS bill. More importantly, Lee warned, any use of the global gag rule would mean that fewer patients who need treatment would have facilities, just as has occurred with family planning since the institution of the global gag rule.
"There are too few resources available for NGOs to be able to construct separate facilities," she said. "Any such extension of the gag rule ignores the realities for many who are infected with HIV and would greatly hinder the effectiveness of HIV/AIDS programs."
"I hope that the President will make the right decision."
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At National Press Club, Congresswoman Barbara Lee Spells out Dangers of Global Gag Rule for Women’s Reproductive Rights and Treatment Of HIV/AIDS
Washington, DC - At the National Press Club today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee spoke about how much women’s reproductive rights have been compromised since the Bush Administration reinstituted the global gag rule two years ago. On the eve of International Women’s Day, the occasion for the Population Action International press conference, Lee said that the decision had seriously undermined a woman’s fundamental right to choose.Lee also warned that if the gag rule was extended to the treatment of HIV/AIDS, as the Administration is threatening, the dangers will be equally disastrous. Lee said that the President’s AIDS initiative was initially promising. But any extension of the global gag rule would "undercut the sincerity" of that initiative.
"The President needs to decide what is more important to him: saving the lives of the millions of people who are infected with HIV worldwide, or satisfying the demands of a small conservative minority within his own party," Lee said. "This should not be politicized."
Lee also expressed concern that the Administration’s plans to expand the policy would needlessly delay the Congressional passage of a comprehensive AIDS bill. More importantly, Lee warned, any use of the global gag rule would mean that fewer patients who need treatment would have facilities, just as has occurred with family planning since the institution of the global gag rule.
"There are too few resources available for NGOs to be able to construct separate facilities," she said. "Any such extension of the gag rule ignores the realities for many who are infected with HIV and would greatly hinder the effectiveness of HIV/AIDS programs."
"I hope that the President will make the right decision."
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