What is project 2025?
Project 2025 is a blueprint for the next conservative President-elect. This strategic plan was written by the Heritage Foundation, an influential far-right think tank, in collaboration with former President Trump's ex-employees and far-right and Christian nationalist groups. In the past, Republican presidents have often acted on policy advice from the Heritage Foundation.
The plan's negative impact on democracy, human rights and freedom of speech is immense. This 900-plus page plan not only has a huge impact on SRHR in the US. It also contains policy advice for US development cooperation and foreign policy. In this article, we focus on the impact the plan would have on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) worldwide.
Breakdown of the multilateral system
The plan proposes to undermine the legitimacy of the multilateral system. These are bodies where different countries come together to make international compromises such as meetings at the United Nations. They want to use these only to defend American Christian values and promote them abroad. This means withdrawing from organizations that oppose them or block and delay international processes to counter progressive policies. They want to replace the current international system with one based on religious values where the private sector plays the most prominent role. Traditional civil society would be decimated if it does not comply with the new rules.
Expanding Global Gag Rule (Mexico City Policy)
According to Project 2025, organizations that do not share its values should be punished. For example by extending the Global Gag Rule. These rules prohibit non-US NGOs that receive US support from discussing safe abortion with clients, students or politicians.
During President Trump's first term, this rule was already expanded from all family planning programs to all global health programs. If Project 2025 becomes a reality, all US development spending and US international NGOs, will also have to comply. All NGOs working on issues such as, HIV, maternal-child health, relational and sexual education and contraception may no longer receive support from the US or will face major bureaucratic hurdles. Researchers estimate that 51 billion euros in aid is at stake. Project 2025 also specifically states no more US government funds will go to UNFPA, the United Nations population fund.
During President Trump's first term, this rule was already expanded from all family planning programs to all global health programs. If Project 2025 becomes a reality, all US development spending and US international NGOs, will also have to comply. All NGOs working on issues such as, HIV, maternal-child health, relational and sexual education and contraception may no longer receive support from the US or will face major bureaucratic hurdles. Researchers estimate that 51 billion euros in aid is at stake. Project 2025 also specifically states no more US government funds will go to UNFPA, the United Nations population fund.
What can you do?
If the next US president implements this plan, the consequences will be catastrophic. Even if the plan is not implemented, there are damaging consequences. This is because the international anti-rights movement feels empowered by this plan and is actively seeking international support.
As a person interested in defending sexual and reproductive health and rights, you can:
As a person interested in defending sexual and reproductive health and rights, you can:
- Bring Project 2025 to the attention of people around you, as well as the Belgian governments to make this a foreign policy priority.
- Counter misinformation with well-founded arguments and human stories.
- Work with partners and ensure that Belgium works with other progressive countries to counter the influence of Project 2025.
- Advocate for an emergency fund where European countries do support organizations working on SRHR themes. Also in the humanitarian aid sector.
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