Oslo – Norway has joined an international initiative to raise millions of dollars to replace shortfalls left by U.S. President Donald Trump’s ban on U.S.funded groups worldwide providing information on abortion.
In January, the Netherlands initiated the setting up of global fund to help women access abortion services.
According to the initiators of the fund, Trump’s “global gag rule” will leave 600 million dollars funding gap in the next four years.
Norway pledged 10 million dollars to the fund.
Sweden, Denmark, Belgium, Luxembourg, Finland, Canada and Cape Verde had all expressed their willingness to support the fund.
“The government is increasing its support for family planning and safe abortion by 85 million Norwegian crowns ($10 million) compared with 2016.
“At a time when this agenda has come under pressure, a joint effort is particularly important,’’ Prime Minister Erna Solberg said in a statement.
In January, Trump reinstated a policy requiring overseas organisations that receive U.S. family-planning funds to certify they do not perform abortions or provide abortion advice as a method of family planning.