US removes restrictions on family planning aid

US President Barack Obama rescinded the 'Mexico City Policy' on 23 January 2009, lifting restrictions on aid by the US Government to family planning and reproductive health services in the developing world.

Under the the Mexico City Policy, foreign NGOs needed to certify they would not perform or actively promote abortion as a method of family planning using funds generated from any source as a condition for receiving USAID family planning assistance. The Mexico City Policy had been in effect from 1985 until 1993, when it was rescinded by President Clinton. President Bush reinstated the policy in 2001, and it had remained in place since that time.

In rescinding the policy, President Obama directed USAID to immediately waive the policy’s conditions in any current grants; notify current grantees, as soon as possible, that these conditions have been waived; and immediately cease imposing these conditions in any future grants.

Documents and decisions related to the decision are available from the USAID website.