Undermining HIV/AIDS Prevention

Although, the U.S. government has been claiming that it is committed to fighting the HIV/AIDS crisis on a global level, the Gag Rule hinders any progress towards this goal.

Creating a Deadly Dearth of Condoms

Health care agencies that refused to sign the Gag have lost access to contraceptive supplies donated by USAID, including condoms, as well as funding. Often these groups cannot afford to purchase condoms to give out to the public, leaving adolescents and adults at an increased risk of contracting HIV/AIDS through unprotected sex.

By 2002, the Gag Rule had cut off shipments of USAID-donated contraceptives to 16 developing countries, because the only recipients in those countries were IPPF members who refused to comply with the Gag Rule. The leading family planning organizations in 13 other countries were also cut off.1

Limiting Access to Testing and Treatment

The loss of funding to groups that did not sign the Gag Rule has also caused many health centers and clinics to cut down their services, lay off staff, or close their doors altogether. Many of these groups are now so under-funded that they can no longer offer essential counseling, testing and treatment services to the public. The lack of these crucial and potentially life-saving services, combined with the deadly shortage of condoms, means that more people are likely to contract HIV and less likely to be able to manage their illness.

Crippling Education and Prevention Efforts

The loss of HIV/AIDS education and prevention programs is particularly troubling since it increases the likelihood that people, especially adolescents, will engage in risky sexual behavior, increasing their chances of contracting HIV.

For example, the St. Lucia Planned Parenthood Association was forced to cancel plans to train 218 "peer helpers" from eight secondary schools and one primary school after losing USAID funding. This program would have reached 12,000 school-aged children with comprehensive reproductive health information, including HIV/AIDS prevention.2

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