In today's overly-complicated world there are very few problems that can be solved with the stroke of a pen. But what if I told you that the next U.S. president could on day one -- January 20, 2017 -- help tens of thousands of women and girls in the developing world who have been raped by doing just that?
Since its passage in 1973, the Helms Amendment has been grossly misinterpreted to prevent U.S. funds from being used to provide safe abortions for rape survivors in the world's poorest countries, even in the case of incest or a life-threatening pregnancy and despite whether local laws allow for those exceptions.
The legislation clearly states that foreign assistance funds cannot be used to provide abortions "as a method of family planning," but the Helms Amendment has been enforced -- for as long as anyone can remember -- as an outright ban.
Meaning, unless and until a U.S. president picks up a pen to clarify this misconstrued policy, women and girls in conflict-ridden regions who have been raped and impregnated by monstrous men and terrorist groups, like ISIS and Boko Haram, will have their abortion care options limited.
America's foreign policy, through the distortion of this law, is telling these traumatized survivors (some of whom are adolescents and all of whom could die in childbirth) that the U.S. government would rather they risk death, suffer unsafe abortions, or bear the pain of giving birth to their attackers' children, than use funds to safely terminate pregnancies that are the result of horrific circumstances.
But, unfortunately, that's not all. The misapplication of the Helms Amendment also makes it difficult for U.S.-funded health organizations to help women and girls deal with the aftermath of unsafe abortions. Why, you ask? Because these organizations are barred from using foreign assistance funds to buy the tools and medications that could save women's lives after botched abortions since those same tools and medications could be used to perform safe abortions. And it's a downright shame.
Already, roughly 47,000 women die every year as a result of unsafe abortions. Thousands more are forced to deliver the babies of rapists--terrorists, soldiers, or relatives. And the last thing they need is for the U.S. to erect barriers to what should be basic health care.
Can you imagine what this means for a girl in Syria or Iraq, where rape is being used as a weapon of war? Even if she manages to flee her crumbling, war-torn country for the relative safety of a refugee camp in neighboring Jordan or Lebanon, she may still have no choice but to risk her life giving birth to her rapist's baby, all due to the mishandling of an outdated U.S. policy. It's not only appalling; it's heartbreakingly demeaning.
There is no one in the world who is more deserving of our country's help than the woman who has escaped the clutches of a demented terrorist, the girl who has been married off to a man three times her age, or the niece whose uncle ignores the sanctity of blood ties. America's foreign policy should not be telling these women and girls, "You are on your own." It should be telling them, "We stand with you."
That is why we are calling on Trump, Sanders, Rubio, Clinton, and all of the other 2016 presidential candidates to tell the nation whether or not, on day one in the White House, they are going to take a stand for rape survivors in the developing world by clarifying the Helms Amendment.
The American people deserve to know if the person they're going to elect to be the next president of the United States will turn a blind eye to the abuse of women and girls overseas or pick up that pen and erase over four decades of injustice.
Empowering women and providing the most vulnerable people around the world with access to comprehensive health services -- including access to safe abortions -- should be a proud cornerstone of American foreign policy and assistance, not a shameful deviation.
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Women's Rights Hang In The Balance
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
The 2024 election will prove to have vast and potentially dire consequences for women in America. From the fall of Roe to an assault on IVF in Alabama and the resurrection of an 1864 Arizona abortion ban, women's rights are under attack across the country.
HuffPost is committed to bringing you the most up-to-date information as Americans vote this fall. While other news outlets retreat behind paywalls, we believe news this important should be free for everyone. Would you consider supporting our journalism? Even as little as $2 helps fund our work. Thank you.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Support HuffPostAlready contributed? Log in to hide these messages.