An organization that advocates for global reproductive rights is hosting a summit on Saturday that is open to NEC students.
The Fight4HER campaign is part of The Population Connection Action Fund, which seeks to change federal health policies and expand global access to reproductive health care.
Hannah Lammers, the Campus and Community Organizer for Fight4HER, visited several NEC classes to spread word about the event. Lammers sat down for an interview with The NewEnglander staff and said Fight4HER is trying to change the Global Gag Rule, which “blocks U.S. federal funding for non-governmental organizations that provide abortion services, provide counseling or referrals, or advocate to decriminalize abortion,” according to the Population Connection Action Fund.
“Any health clinic that would be eligible to receive U.S. federal funding” is impacted by this order, Lammers said. “The full scope of comprehensive healthcare, which includes reproductive access, they are affected by it.”
The goal of this organization is to have it permanently rescinded. The rule was first introduced in 1984 and has been lifted and put back into place by different presidents.
“The problem with it being able to be put back in place whenever is it creates a chilling effect for these clinics,” Lammers said. “For example, if they had decided to take money from this budget, while Biden had rescinded it, they know that they could lose it at any moment, and so if they rely too heavily on it, it could be detrimental to them if it got pulled again, which it inevitably would be,” Lammers said.
The workshop and speaking event on Saturday, Sept. 14, is called the Summit For Global Reproductive Rights. The Organization will provide free childcare, breakfast, lunch, and transportation for all student participants, as well as a $20 gift card after completion of the summit.
There will be around seven or eight speakers, and they are hoping to host 40 participants.
“Students is a really big area, because we want to be able to engage the younger generation and empower them to make the real change for their own future.” Lammers said.
