Last week, the Trump administration reinstated the global gag rule (also known as the Mexico City policy). It’s a regressive policy that restricts foreign assistance in the US to organisations that either provide legal abortion services or offer abortion counselling and advice. The gag rule will have international implications for global health, gender equality and human rights.

In response, MSI Reproductive Choices – a global charity working in 36 countries to make reproductive choice possible – has launched its own campaign ‘Choose Choice. Now.’ As a result of the return of the gag rule, MSI will lose $14 million (£11.3m) in funding from the US, affecting 2.6 million women who may no longer receive access to high-quality sexual and reproductive health services.

“The return of the global gag rule means US international aid will be abruptly affected, and reproductive health programmes will be reduced or shut down. With MSI set to lose $14 million in healthcare funding, our teams are deeply worried for their communities,” says Elizabeth Walden, global director of communications at MSI Reproductive Choices.

“Without reproductive healthcare, more women will be forced down a path they didn’t choose. More unplanned pregnancies. More life-threatening unsafe abortions. Trump has signed away the rights, voices and lives of women. But at MSI Reproductive Choices, we will not be silenced and we will not back down. We will always defend the right to choose.”

The Choose Choice campaign is calling for donations to support women around the world in the wake of Trump’s decision to reinstate the global gag rule. “Without access to contraception, safe abortion and other essential reproductive care, more women will be forced down a path they didn’t choose. That means more unplanned pregnancies and more women denied life-saving care,” reads a campaign statement. “By starting a regular gift today, you could help 2.6 million women take back control of their bodies and futures.”

Also as part of the campaign, Sarah Shaw, MSI’s associate director of advocacy, drove a ‘Choose Choice’ DigiVan around London, via the US Embassy, to demonstrate international outrage at the signing of the policy. The van featured the campaign’s imagery, created with the help of the GOOD Agency: close-up shots of women’s faces with Trump’s signature over their lips, showing their mouths sewn shut.

To donate or find out more about MSI’s campaign, click here.

Images: Doug Peters/PA Media Assignments