So far, eight countries have signed up to the pan-European effort to promote and protect women's rights around the globe in direct response to the US leader's decision to reinstate a ban on US funding to groups that provide information about abortion, which is disparagingly known as the 'gag rule.'
Seeing a lot of posts about Trump signing an anti-abortion order with only other men present. Here’s the uncropped photo of the signing. pic.twitter.com/0gAzSnZ4Nx
— Sanj (@sanjeedah) 24 января 2017 г.
As a prelude to the global fundraising campaign, Sweden, together with Belgium, the Netherlands and Denmark, will arrange the "She Decides" conference in Brussels on March 2, where government officials and civil society representatives from 50 countries will take part. While the aim is to make a stand for women's rights around the globe, the political message towards the US is obvious.
"If you know that this is a very bad road to go down if you want to save women's lives, if you want women and families to have power over their own lives and that girls should be able to go to school and not get pregnant too early, then it is important that we stand up for the right to planned, safe and legal abortions. But also that we show how much money we are prepared to put up," Swedish Minister for International Development Cooperation and Climate Isabella Lövin said, as quoted by Swedish daily Sydsvenskan.
Last week, the very same Lövin rose to international fame when she seemed take a hit at Trump himself. Lövin notoriously posted an image of herself surrounded by her female colleagues mocking the image of the US President signing the anti-abortion order surrounded by men.
Just signed referral of Swedish #climate law, binding all future governments to net zero emissions by 2045. For a safer and better future. pic.twitter.com/OqOO2y8BU6
— Isabella Lövin (@IsabellaLovin) 3 февраля 2017 г.
Sweden's new climate law is designed to ensure a "credible climate policy" and aims to reach the ambitious target of achieving a net level of zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045. Although hailed as a landmark decision and a breakthrough by Swedish Greens (who happen to be Lövin's party colleagues), it was criticized as a pipe dream by power engineering specialists.
Never miss a story again — sign up to our Telegram channel and we'll keep you up to speed!