Gag Me: Money versus Mission?
Rebecca Burch, MPP, Humphrey School of Public Affairs

In 2001, President George W. Bush announced the reinstatement of family planning restrictions that limited the abortion-related activities of any foreign non-governmental organization (NGO) receiving U.S. aid.  Bush's administrative policy disqualified an NGO from receiving U.S. family planning funding if the organization used any source of funding to perform, counsel, refer, research or lobby for abortion.  The only exceptions to this policy were for circumstances including: threat to the life of the woman, rape or incest.  Additionally, Bush's administrative policy allowed NGOs to treat women who suffered complications from legal or illegal abortions.  From February 15, 2001 onward, before an NGO was able to receive U.S. family planning funds, it must sign a pledge of compliance with the above provisions.  This case explores the dilemma one non-governmental organization faced regarding the Mexico City Policy/Global Gag Rule.  The Family Planning Association of Nepal (FPAN) and Dr. Nirmal K. Bista, its Director General, must decide whether to comply with restrictive U.S. provisions to receive family planning aid.  To comply with the U.S. policy FPAN must discontinue its abortion-related activities, including its advocacy to legalize abortion as well as its partnership with the Nepalese Ministry of Health, or it stood to sacrifice funding and in turn face the possibility of reduced family planning services through decreased clinic operations and staff.  Should FPAN choose to suspend part of its mission in order to accomplish the rest of its objectives?