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Photo of Donald Trump signing anti-abortion executive order while surrounded by men sparks outrage

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President Trump signs three executive orders

President Donald Trump has signed memorandums to pull the US out of the proposed TPP, freezing most federal government hiring and reinstating a ban on providing federal money to international groups that perform abortions.

The photo said it all.

In one of his first official acts as US President, Donald Trump has signed an anti-abortion executive order.

The photo of Trump, surrounded by eight male staffers, shows him reinstating a "global gag order", first introduced by Ronald Reagan in 1984.

The order blocks United States funding to foreign organisations that perform or provide advice on abortions.

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And the internet reacted with fury.
 

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First Lady of New York City Chirlane McCray, also saw something wrong with the photo:

The global gag order prevents health organisations overseas that provide advice on abortion and contraception, or perform abortions, from accessing American aid funding. Health organisations in developing countries must now choose between providing women with important advice on contraceptive and family planning options or receiving vital funding from the US, the largest foreign aid contributor.

Current estimates reveal that US funding helps 27 million women worldwide access contraception and advice on reproductive health.

Reinstating a ban on US funding to help women in developing countries access contraceptive services could have significant consequences.

The World Health Organisation estimates more than 21 million women a year have unsafe abortions, accounting for 13 per cent of maternal deaths worldwide. Since its inception, the global gag order has been repealed and reinstated with each change of power in the White House.

Women and men alike have taken to Twitter to comment on the irony of the image showing a group of men witnessing the signing of the global gag order, when none of them will ever feel the practical consequences of restricting access to contraception and abortion options for women.

Congresswoman Dina Titus, who represents Nevada in the House of Representatives, also broadcasted her dismay:

Author J.K. Rowling weighed in with her fears for women:

So did Cecile Richards, president of The Planned Parenthood Federation of America:

Suzanne Ehlers, the president and chief executive of Population Action International, a major international non-government organisation that works to promote access to reproductive health services for women, said in a statement:

"Trump's global gag rule will obstruct and destroy the work of health care providers who are often women's main — and sometimes only — source for reproductive health care, and their entry point for receiving a wide range of primary health care services."

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