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Advocacy Blog
Thursday, August 25, 2005
DKT Sues Agency over Prostitution Requirement
A U.S.-based family-planning charity is formally challenging
Washington's "anti-prostitution" policy, calling it an unconstitutional
infringement of speech that is undermining international efforts to
stem the spread of HIV/AIDS. The group, DKT International,
filed its lawsuit in district court against the U.S. Agency for
International Development (USAID) and its administrator, challenging
the requirement that U.S. and foreign non-governmental organizations
(NGOs) receiving USAID funding adopt a policy "explicitly opposing
prostitution and sex trafficking".
No one pretends that [the US anti-prostitution policy] will contain or
ameliorate the darker aspects of the world's oldest profession. It
represents posturing by American politicians who are increasingly seen
around the world as patronizing, bullying, and obsessed with sex.
USAID adopted the rule requirement in June, as one of a number of
policies advocated by the "pro-life" religious right. Other George W.
Bush administration initiatives include endorsement of the so-called
Mexico Protocol, which forbids abortion counseling in family planning
programs overseas.
U.S. observance of the protocol -- termed "the global gag rule" by
family planning professionals -- was rescinded during the Bill Clinton
administration (1992-2000) but reauthorized by Bush on his first day in
office in January 2001.
Under the rule, foreign family planning agencies may not receive U.S.
funds if, with their own funds, they counsel on or refer for abortion,
advocate for more lenient abortion laws in their own country, or
provide abortion services.
DKT's president, Philip D. Harvey, said the anti-prostitution and sex
trafficking policy "does a grave disservice to international
AIDS-prevention programs and to those who carry them out. The policy
does no good, and is clearly doing considerable harm."
He told IPS, "I have found that non-governmental organizations around
the world really despise this anti-prostitution pledge. In addition to
making their work harder, it undermines their integrity, insults them
really."
For more on this story...
Posted by Jennifer Lowe
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