Statement from Fòs Feminista on the official destruction of stockpiled USAID contraceptives

Nueva York, NY — This week, a leaked memo written for a Trump administration official revealed that millions of dollars’ worth of contraceptives meant for women and girls in low-income countries have officially been rendered unusable after the Trump administration dismantled U.S.A.I.D. and pushed for the stockpiled supplies – including birth control pills, IUDs, and hormonal implants – to be destroyed rather than sent to their original destinations.

This news marks the latest blow in the Trump administration’s ongoing assault on global health and rights, which has already caused devastating ripple effects for women and girls in the Global South. The Administration’s America First Global Health Strategy has led to a total erasure of aid for maternal health, family planning, and sexual and reproductive health, and is exporting restrictive U.S. domestic policies into global health systems.

In response to the news that these contraceptives are no longer usable, Giselle Carino, CEO of Fòs Feminista, issued the following statement:

“In the face of the Trump administration’s mounting attacks against global health, we at Fòs Feminista remain committed to working alongside our partners through INNOVA Health Solutions, our social enterprise that makes it easier and less expensive for organizations on the ground to get access to contraception and other supplies. Together, we are aiming to strengthen more reliable, locally-driven supply chains that keep care within reach."

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Fòs Feminista es una alianza feminista internacional centrada en la salud, los derechos y la justicia sexuales y reproductivos de las mujeres, las niñas y las personas de género diverso. Junto con más de 200 organizaciones locales de todo el mundo, nos dedicamos a la atención médica, la educación y la defensa de nuestros objetivos. Esto incluye la prestación de servicios de salud sexual y reproductiva y la aplicación de estrategias comunitarias que faciliten el acceso a la atención médica sexual y reproductiva a las mujeres, las niñas y otras personas marginadas. También involucramos a los jóvenes con una educación sexual integral y brindamos atención a las sobrevivientes de la violencia de género. Nos unimos a nuestros socios en las calles, en los tribunales y en otros espacios de defensa como una voz feminista sin complejos, resistiendo la injusticia y defendiendo la igualdad de género y los derechos reproductivos a nivel local y mundial.