The Netherlands wants to step up and start an international fund to help women on developing nations get access to birth control, abortion, and education.  This is to fill the gap created by Trump administration's decision to cease funding any overseas aid organizations which discussed abortion.

Dutch Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation Lilianne Ploumen wants to launch a new fund that could be supported by governments, businesses and social organizations to "compensate this financial setback as much as possible" for a very good reason:  "So that women can remain in control of their own bodies."

This comes after Donald Trump re-instituted the so-called "Mexico City Policy" to deny funding to international groups that perform abortions or provide information about abortions.  Supporters of Women's Reproductive Rights call it the "global gag rule";  It has been instituted by Republicans and rescinded by Democrats since 1984.  Then-President Barack Obama last rescinded it in 2009.

"Banning abortions does not result in fewer abortions," said Ms. Ploumen, "It leads to more irresponsible practices in back rooms and more maternal deaths."

The World Health Organization (WHO) says 22 million women undergo unsafe abortion procedures every year, the vast majority of whom are in developing countries.  Nearly nearly 50,000 women die from complications from this annually.