The refusal of the US under President Trump to fund abortions around the world is a problem for a number of countries who think that the destruction of unborn children through abortion is acceptable and something that development aid should provide.  The establishment of the She Decides fund by the Netherlands following the reinstatement of the Mexico City Policy was just the beginning of a systematic effort to provide not only abortion but financial support for organizations that perform or promote abortion such as abortion mega giants International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) and Marie Stopes International (MSI). 

Now, in an appalling action, Sweden has escalated its pro-abortion mania and vowed that it will stop giving aid to any organization that adheres to the US pro-life policy and that will not abort the lives of unborn children or urge their mothers to do so. Sweden’s development aid agency, Sida, announced the decision. Its director Carin Jämtin stated, “This is about women’s own right to decide when, and if, they want to have children and how many children they want. Sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) are a prerequisite for being able to attend school and being active on the labour market.” 

“We have to defend SRHR and the right to abortion for girls and women in poor countries and when the United States implements a policy that will hit the poorest countries and the most vulnerable groups – women and girls in need of care, Sida has to make sure that Swedish aid continues to go to those activities we have agreed on.”

When questioned if the move would force aid organizations to choose between aid from the US or from Sweden, she responded: "Yes, you could put it like that. But it's Trump's administration that has put them in a difficult situation, by not letting them do what they know is right."

She explained that similar conversations have been taking place with the Nordic countries, the Netherlands, Canada, Luxembourg and the UK and that she hoped other nations would follow Sweden's lead.

Canadian Minister of International Development, Marie-Claude Bibeau, reasserted Canada’s support for abortion as a key component of its foreign aid in the face of criticism by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops claiming that "Contraception and even abortion is only a tool to end poverty.”

The bishops questioned the abortion commitment by Bibeau and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in a letter which also contrasted the $650 million in aid over three years to abortion services and sexual and reproductive health while only committing $119.25 million to alleviate food shortages in South Sudan, Yemen, northeast Nigeria and Somalia.

Bishop Crosby, head of the bishops conference stated, “With respect to a foreign policy based on abortion advocacy and ‘sexual reproductive rights has Canada forgotten that for a considerable population (both within Canada and abroad) the unborn child is regarded as a human being created by God and worthy of life and love? This moral position can be found among Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Orthodox Christians, a number of Protestant Christians, Roman and Eastern Catholics, in addition to many other people of good will, including non-believers.”

“The idea that everyone can somehow just agree that abortion and contraception are universal human rights is neither convincing nor credible… If Canada’s foreign policy needs a stable ground it cannot possibly be abortion advocacy and ‘sexual reproductive rights.’ And if the dignity of women is to have a universal moral foundation it cannot be based on principles that override the rights of the unborn child,” he concluded.