Nations vow millions to counter Trump abortion ban

BRUSSELS (AP) — Nations are pledging tens of millions of dollars at an international family planning conference in Brussels aimed at making up for the gap left by US President Donald Trump’s ban on US funding to groups linked to abortion.

Some 50 governments are attending Saturday’s conference to provide fresh funds, and early in the conference the total was already closing in on $100 million, with 20 millioneuro contributions from Sweden and Finland adding to earlier commitments.

The conference was organized at short notice after Trump’s decision, one of his first acts as president, to withhold about half a billion dollars a year from international groups that perform abortions or provide information about them.

Officials in many European nations and around the world say the move will hurt women and girls who need family planning most.

Belgium and several other countries already have committed to contributing at least 10 million euros each. Beyond governments, philanthropists and private donors will be asked to contribute at the conference.

Outside of many European nations, Canada, African and Asian countries will also have representatives at the conference, as will the European Union and the United Nations.

Swedish Vice Premier Isabella Lovin told the AP that even though maternal mortality rates have declined by almost half in the last generation, “every second minute a woman or a girl dies in the world due to pregnancy.”

”The important thing now is what we can do as a progressive alliance of countries and organizations that want to do more and to make sure that we do not (go) back on progress that has been done,” Lovin said.