For immediate release
Sept. 8, 2014

PAI Joins 80 Organizations in Calling for Immediate Action on the Helms Amendment
Statement by PAI President and CEO Suzanne Ehlers

“About one month ago, PAI launched a public campaign asking President Obama to change the way the Helms Amendment is implemented—to allow funding of safe abortion care for women who are pregnant as a result of rape or incest, or whose pregnancy threatens their lives.

Today, PAI is proud to stand among 80 diverse health and human rights organizations that sent a letter to the president urging immediate action on the policy.

The Helms Amendment prohibits the use of United States foreign assistance funds for the performance of abortions “as a method of family planning.” But for more than 40 years, the law has been incorrectly implemented as a complete ban on all abortion-related services, even in countries where abortion is legal. The White House has the power to change this by instructing USAID and the State Department to allow abortion services in the cases of rape, incest, and life endangerment.

It is an incredibly challenging moment for the global community: from the Ebola outbreak, to continued crisis in places like Syria and Iraq, to age-old struggles on our own soil with poverty and homelessness. However, the women of the world cannot wait. PAI believes stronger women build stronger nations and that they can and will lead change if empowered to do so. We are strong in our resolve that this policy must change, and ready to support the president in taking action.”