Over one month ago Donald Trump reinstated and expanded the Global Gag Rule. As organizations around the world wait for official guidelines on what the expansion means, GJC and other women's rights groups are already working hard to combat these deadly restrictions on women's healthcare.

Today, GJC participated in the She Decides Conference in Brussels. The conference brought together representatives from governments, civil society and women on the ground with the aim of joining forces to mitigate the impact of the decrease in US funding from Trump's Global Gag Rule.

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Monday, in response to Donald Trump’s expanded Global Gag Rule, Lilianne Ploumen, minister of foreign trade and development cooperation in the Netherlands, created a non-governmental organization called “She Decides.” The NGO vows to raise money for aid groups who are suffering financial losses due to the Gag Rule. The Dutch ministry announced that it will donate 10 million euros to the organization.

Tuesday, President Trump introduced new deportation rules that allow more expulsions. These new rules will allow the Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement to deport more immigrants immediately and put pressure on resources, staffing and budget.

Tuesday, Norway pledged millions to counter Trump’s Global Gag Rule. Norway joins countries like Canada, Denmark, Luxembourg and Belgium in taking a stance against President Trump’s global abortion policy.

Wednesday, it was announced that with the aid of Germany, a new and beneficial trauma unit specializing in mental help will open and treat women who are former Islamic State sex slaves. This initiates dialogue regarding psychological trauma and the proper treatment and resources that women need after such traumatizing experiences.

Thursday, it was asked, is anyone leading the feminist movement in President Trump’s cabinet? Seems not. While it is still uncertain what particular roles the First Lady, Melania Trump, and the President’s oldest daughter, Ivanka Trump, will have in the Trump administration, their stance on current issues regarding universal healthcare, availability of abortions and reproductive rights, as well as gender equality, seem to align closer with the policies of President Trump and his cabinet, rather than a progressive, feminist agenda.

Friday,  a report shown a light on the negative consequences of the expanded Global Gag Rule enacted by President Trump in places like Kenya and across Africa. Lack of access to safe medical procedures, including abortions, is leading to a rise in maternal deaths nationwide.

Women have been the leaders of successful resistance movements around the world. From the women of Liberia's mass action for peace, to mothers in Argentina and women's groups in Burma, women's rights activists are often the first to speak out against the rise of extremism.

After the women's march on January 21st, which was the largest peaceful day of protest in US history, GJC and other women's rights groups are keeping the momentum going.

Join GJC in DC on March 8th, the day of the nationwide Women's Strike, as we protest against Trump's reinstatement and expansion of the Global Gag Rule.

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GJC's UN and EU Director, Stephanie Johanssen, was quoted in Pete Voelker's article in Vice, "Talking to New Yorkers Who Went on Strike to Protest Trump."

Read here