Belgium stands firm against US attempts to destroy contraceptive supplies bound for poor women.
In a move widely condemned by human rights groups, the Biden administration has refused to distribute millions of dollars' worth of contraceptive medication and devices that were being stored in Belgium. The Trump administration's decision to destroy these supplies was first reported in September, but a later investigation revealed that the contraceptives had not been destroyed after all.
The US government claims that it no longer views contraception as lifesaving treatment, and will no longer fund birth control products for other nations. However, Belgian officials say they have explored all possible avenues to prevent the destruction of these supplies, including relocation and transfer options to Belgian authorities or international organizations.
According to Sarah Shaw, associate director of advocacy at MSI Reproductive Choices, a nonprofit agency that has repeatedly offered to distribute the products at no cost to US taxpayers. "We can't buy the commodities, but we can arrange to cover the cost of the distribution," she said. This includes repackaging costs, shipping, and import duties that would be incurred in transporting them to another country.
The contraceptives in question were originally intended for distribution in low-income countries, but their destruction could have devastating consequences. A study published in July estimated that the US Agency for International Development (USAID) funding cuts could result in more than 14 million additional deaths by 2030. Without access to family planning, rates of unintended pregnancies, maternal mortality, and mother-to-child transmission of HIV are likely to increase.
"This is why there were so many commodities stuck in the supply chain," Shaw said. "They were never able to work through to the end of their journey." Caitlin Horrigan, senior director of global advocacy at Planned Parenthood Federation of America, described the Trump administration's attacks on reproductive health care as "relentless, chaotic and cruel."
The destruction of these contraceptives has already had significant impacts in sub-Saharan Africa, where 86 percent of programs surveyed said they have seen significant impacts as a result of USAID cuts. These impacts include increased unmet need for contraception, unintended pregnancies, maternal deaths, and increases in unsafe abortion.
As the Biden administration grapples with the fallout from its predecessor's policies, it must act quickly to restore funding for global reproductive health programs. The fate of these contraceptives serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of neglecting women's health and rights around the world.
In a move widely condemned by human rights groups, the Biden administration has refused to distribute millions of dollars' worth of contraceptive medication and devices that were being stored in Belgium. The Trump administration's decision to destroy these supplies was first reported in September, but a later investigation revealed that the contraceptives had not been destroyed after all.
The US government claims that it no longer views contraception as lifesaving treatment, and will no longer fund birth control products for other nations. However, Belgian officials say they have explored all possible avenues to prevent the destruction of these supplies, including relocation and transfer options to Belgian authorities or international organizations.
According to Sarah Shaw, associate director of advocacy at MSI Reproductive Choices, a nonprofit agency that has repeatedly offered to distribute the products at no cost to US taxpayers. "We can't buy the commodities, but we can arrange to cover the cost of the distribution," she said. This includes repackaging costs, shipping, and import duties that would be incurred in transporting them to another country.
The contraceptives in question were originally intended for distribution in low-income countries, but their destruction could have devastating consequences. A study published in July estimated that the US Agency for International Development (USAID) funding cuts could result in more than 14 million additional deaths by 2030. Without access to family planning, rates of unintended pregnancies, maternal mortality, and mother-to-child transmission of HIV are likely to increase.
"This is why there were so many commodities stuck in the supply chain," Shaw said. "They were never able to work through to the end of their journey." Caitlin Horrigan, senior director of global advocacy at Planned Parenthood Federation of America, described the Trump administration's attacks on reproductive health care as "relentless, chaotic and cruel."
The destruction of these contraceptives has already had significant impacts in sub-Saharan Africa, where 86 percent of programs surveyed said they have seen significant impacts as a result of USAID cuts. These impacts include increased unmet need for contraception, unintended pregnancies, maternal deaths, and increases in unsafe abortion.
As the Biden administration grapples with the fallout from its predecessor's policies, it must act quickly to restore funding for global reproductive health programs. The fate of these contraceptives serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of neglecting women's health and rights around the world.
The US is being super mean 
to poor women 
by not giving them birth control pills 
. They're saying it's not lifesaving 
, but that's not true 
! It's gonna cause lots of problems 
like more babies being born unexpectedly 
.
, but poor women can't afford these things 
either. So, the US should just ship them out 
. They're even saying they'll make it harder for people to get healthcare 
.
and stop this mean policy 
. The US should put their money where their mouth is 
! This is a big deal 
, and we shouldn't ignore it 
they're literally tryna destroy contraceptive supplies meant 4 poor women worldwide 
but lets be real ppl, thats just a bunch of BS 
these meds are gonna make or break the life of so many ppl especially in sub-saharan africa where family planning is already super hard 2 come by 
Newsflash: access to birth control is a basic human right! Without it, more women and babies will die from preventable diseases. This isn't just about sex or reproductive health - it's about basic human dignity.
It's just a huge waste of resources and people's lives.
. The US is basically saying that they don't care about women's health in other countries anymore 
. But it's not just about us – it's about all those women and girls in sub-Saharan Africa who are already struggling to access basic healthcare 
.
. And it's not just about the number of people who will die; it's also about the countless women and girls who will be left without access to birth control, leading to more unintended pregnancies and maternal mortality 
. We can't let the Trump administration's policies dictate our course of action 
.
. The idea that they're going to stop funding birth control products for other countries is just devastating 
. We need more support for global reproductive health programs, like now 